| Summary: | Includes bibliographical references === The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has increased substantially globally with a concurrent decline in both children's physical activity and fitness levels. The socio-ecological model proposes that health behaviour, such as physical activity, is influenced by multiple factors, at an individual, social and environmental level. However, there seems to be a lack of consensus in the current literature on the factors influencing physical activity in different settings (e.g. school, neighbourhood), and across a wide range of socio-economic conditions. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the role of different environmental factors (within the school and the neighbourhood environment) in relation to children's physical activity in a South African setting. Therefore, one of the key aims of this thesis was to assess the effectiveness of a novel intervention on fitness, measures of physical activity and factors that influence physical activity. Specifically, this thesis assessed the effectiveness of a school-based, curriculum-grounded, educator-focused intervention designed to increase physical activity and healthy eating in South African primary school students in low income settings, on fitness levels and physical activity related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour (Chapter 2). Additionally, this thesis examined factors within the school environment associated with observed physical activity in children during in-school break time, self-report activity, and moderate- to -vigorous, in-school objectively-measured activity (Chapter 3-5). Furthermore, this thesis assessed the influences of parental perceptions and the neighbourhood environment on children's physical activity (Chapter 6). The overarching aim of this thesis is to examine the association between environmental constructs (physical spatial and built environment, social environment, and policy environment) and children's physical activity.
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