Event Logistics Guide
THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The Problem
Children today spend less time
being physically active and more
time engaging in sedentary
activities, such as watching television
or playing video games.
Their activity levels tend to drop
even further during adolescence.
The decreased amount of daily
physical activity is one of the
contributors to the youth obesity
epidemic. The number of overweight
children ages 6–19 has
more than tripled since 1980
(CDC, 2006).
The current lack of physical activity
among our children can lead
to immediate health problems and
can compromise their future
health. That lack of physical activity
and the increase in unhealthy
behaviors contribute to emerging
health issues for our children, such
as high cholesterol and high blood
pressure (Surgeon General, 2001),
diabetes, gall bladder disease, and
sleep apnea (American Academy
of Pediatrics, 2002).
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance
System (CDC, 2002) data
shows that 32 percent of children
in the United States attend physical
education classes daily, down
from 42 percent in 1991. Yet,
other studies show that
children spend almost six
and one–half hours each
day using media,
including TV, video games, and
the Internet (University of Pennsylvania,
2000). Television is the
medium with which children
spend the most time (University
of Pennsylvania, 2000).
The Benefit
Physical activity has been identified
as one of our nation's ten
leading health indicators in
Healthy People 2010 (USDHHS,
2000a). Regular participation in
physical activity during childhood
and adolescence:
- helps build and maintain
healthy bones, muscles, and
joints, and improves aerobic
fitness levels
- helps control weight, build lean
muscle, and reduce levels of
body fat
- prevents or delays the development
of high blood pressure
and helps reduce blood
pressure in some adolescents
with hypertension
- reduces feelings of depression
and anxiety
Recent research also has shown
that higher academic achievement
is associated with higher
levels of fitness (California
Department of Education, 2002).
In the long–term, regular physical
activity can help reduce the risk
of heart disease, diabetes, high
blood pressure, and some cancers.
It also helps to develop
skills that can benefit children for
life, including:
- goal setting and achievement
- getting along with others
- leadership
- teamwork
Page last reviewed: August 1, 2007
Page last modified: August 1, 2007
Content source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School Health |
