Synthesis of cardiovascular behavioral research for youth health promotion.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has funded school and family-based research studies for more than a decade. The scientific background for focusing on the major cardiovascular health behaviors with youth is reviewed, as well as the importance of the components in the school health program as a framework for the multiple considerations in school health research. A synthesis of 10 NHLBI funded studies is presented including the sociodemographic characteristics of study populations, study designs, interventions, measures, and results. The studies address single or multiple behaviors, elementary and high school age groups, and multiple ethnic/racial groups, and test various combinations of curriculum, parental involvement, and environmental changes (including school food service).