biostudies-literatureUnknown11Wu J<h4>Background</h4> Schools provide a favorable setting for health education, however, the most effective school-based exercise mode for improving physical fitness remains unclear. This network meta-analysis was designed to assess and rank the comparative efficacy of six exercise modalities on physical fitness indicators in a school-based setting. <h4>Methods</h4> An online search of the Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus databases was conducted. Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials were considered. Outcomes included measures of anthropometry and body composition, muscular fitness, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Data were pooled with a random effects model using the frequentist framework. <h4>Results</h4> A total of 66 studies with 8,578 participants (48% girls) wFrontiers in public healthhttps://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10278967biostudies-literatureComparative effectiveness of school-based exercise interventions on physical fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review and network meta-analysisPMC10278967Wu JYang YChen YLi LSun YYu HfalseComparative effectiveness of school-based exercise interventions on physical fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review and network meta-analysis<h4>Background</h4> Schools provide a favorable setting for health education, however, the most effective school-based exercise mode for improving physical fitness remains unclear. This network meta-analysis was designed to assess and rank the comparative efficacy of six exercise modalities on physical fitness indicators in a school-based setting. <h4>Methods</h4> An online search of the Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus databases was conducted. Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials were considered. Outcomes included measures of anthropometry and body composition, muscular fitness, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Data were pooled with a random effects model using the frequentist framework. <h4>Results</h4> A total of 66 studies with 8,578 participants (48% girls) w2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-04-22T02:03:44.986Z2025-04-05T20:12:39.593ZS-EPMC10278967