The American education system, as well as most major health organizations serving children, recognizes that physical activity and physical education in the schools are just as important as other disciplines in the student curriculum.  According to NASBE, “Health and success in school are interrelated.  Schools cannot achieve their primary mission of education if students and staff are not healthy and fit physically, mentally, and socially.”¹ The American Academy of Pediatrics position paper on pediatric overweight states that “Regular physical activity should be consciously promoted, prioritized, and protected within families, schools, and communities.”²  Recommendations published in the 2006 Shape of the Nation report, compiled by the NASPE and the American Heart Association, state that “All elementary school students should participate in at least 150 minutes per week of physical education, and all middle and high school students should participate in at least 225 minutes of physical education per week, for the entire school year.”³ Current evaluations of the health and well-being of the nation’s children, as indicated within the 2006 Shape of the Nation report, are at an all time low and enhance the critical need for activity recommendations.

• The percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980.
• Among children and teens ages 6 to 19 years, 16% (over 9 million young people) are overweight.
• About 10% of children ages 2 to 5 years are overweight.
• About 40% of Mexican-American and African-American youth ages 6 to 19 are overweight or at risk of being overweight.
• Approximately 60% of obese children ages 5 to 10 years have at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, such as elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, or blood pressure, and 25% have two or more risk factors.
• Children and adolescents who are overweight by the age of 8 are 80% more likely to become overweight or obese adults.

Obviously there are many factors involved in the obesity crisis, but physical activity is a major component of the equation.  In light of the incidence of overweight in our youth, physical activity deserves more attention than it has received in past years.  Physical education was evaluated on a national basis in the 2006 Shape of the Nation report.  This report revealed decreased numbers of students enrolled in physical education, decreased numbers of schools requiring physical education, and decreased days and minutes of participation within schools providing physical education.

• Nationwide, the percentage of high school students enrolled in physical education was 56% in 2003 (71% of 9th graders, 61% of 10th graders, 46% of 11th graders, and 40% of 12th graders).
• The percentage of students who attended a daily physical education class has dropped from 42% in 1991 to 28% in 2003.
• The percentage of schools that require physical education in each grade declines from about 50% in grades 1 through 5 to 25% in grade 8, to only 5% in grade 12.
• About 8% of elementary schools, 6.4% of middle school/junior high schools, and 5.8% of senior high schools provide daily physical education or its equivalent (i.e., 150 minutes per week for elementary schools; 225 minutes per week for middle schools/junior high schools and senior high schools) for the entire school year for students in all grades in the school.

Whether a seasoned teacher, administrator, school nurse, or a school community member, we all recognize that for a child to succeed in the classroom a foundation must be developed which enables a child to optimally function with a strong sense of self and purpose.  NASBE has developed multiple policy guidelines to achieve these goals and ensure that our children are “Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn”.
Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn: A School Health Policy Guide

The CDC, through the HealthyYouth! campaign, has provided the President of the United States with a report summarizing the obesity crisis and the impact of obesity on our youth.  Within this resource, there are multiple strategies for school programs to engage children in physical activity and improve performance in the school setting.

As we address the obesity crisis nationally your school community is encouraged to join other schools across the nation by viewing the commitment to educational excellence with a renewed sense of importance and responsibility.  Consider including educational components in your classroom programs for increased lifestyle activity and the promotion of physical activity and physical education programs. 

Promoting Better Health Strategies – School Programs