This article was originally posted on the Let's Move blog. The physical activity facts for adolescent and school health were originally published on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Physical activity is essential to a healthy lifestyle, and it can be especially important in helping kids do better in school. U.S. Health and Human Services studies show that regular physical activity for kids and teens improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, and increases self-esteem. Parents, teachers, and community leaders can all play a supportive role, and help encourage a healthy lifestyle by promoting physical activity into everyday routines.
For kids and teens (ages 6 to 17 years), here's the goal:
- Participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Whether it's playing outside at recess, joining intramural clubs, or interscholastic sports, kids need to be active. Show them that physical activity is fun!
Here's why it's important:
- Strong bones and muscles:Helps build and maintain healthy bones and muscles.
- Reduces the risk of obesity:Helps reduce the risk of developing obesity and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and colon cancer.
- Makes kids more confident:Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety, and promotes psychological well-being.
- Improves academic performance:May help improve students' academic performance, including, academic achievement and grades, and concentration and attentiveness in the classroom.
Here are some important resources to learn more:
Keywords:
Let's Move   
Healthy Kids   
Exercise   
Youth   
Education   
First Lady Michelle Obama is leading the U.S. Delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games and she's calling on families around the country to support Team USA, not just by cheering on our athletes, but by getting active in their own communities.
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LRLM   
Lets Move   
Exercise   
Olympics   
Summer learning loss is a growing problem for American children but there is a simple solution. Research shows that reading just five books during the summer can help kids stay on the path to academic success during the next school year.
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United We Serve   
UWS   
Let's Read Let's Move   
Summer Reading   
First Book   
Energy Express   
REAL Kids Summer Program   
Reading   
LRLM   
How To   
America's children continue to struggle with summer learning loss and childhood obesity. As part of the effort to battle this problem, the Corporation for National and Community Service continues our Let's Read. Let's Move. initiative for the summer of 2012.
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United We Serve   
UWS   
Let's Read Let's Move   
CNCS   
First Book   
Let's Move   
LRLM   
The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has a rich heritage in food production, but an increased reliance on processed foods has left them susceptible to America's obesity epidemic. One way to battle this problem is to increase the availability of locally grown, healthy food choices, and the Red Cliff Mino Bi Ma De Se Win (Return to the Good Life) Community Farm is tackling the problem head-on
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Let's Move in Indian Country   
LRLM   
VISTA   
AmeriCorps   
Do you remember when you fell in love with reading? Many of us can recall that defining moment when we realized that reading is fun. For veteran NFL player Chris Draft, it was the day his mother took him and his brother to get their library cards. He recalled how special he felt at that moment, later emphatically proclaiming to his friends saying, “Man, look I got my library card!”
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LRLM   
Chris Draft   
Department of Education   
Let's Read   
Let's Move.   
As part of its summer enrichment series for Let's Read! Let's Move!, the Department of Education is inviting Cabinet members, administration officials, and other public figures to join in reading children's books, promoting healthy lifestyles, and participating in games and fitness activities with children in pre-kindergarten through third grade, from various local schools and summer programs.
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Let's Read. Let's Move.   
Velasco   
Department of Education   
LRLM   
As the Strategic Advisor for Native American Affairs for the Corporation for National and Community Service, I was honored to participate in the First Lady’s launch of Let’s Move! In Indian Country, which was hosted by the Menominee Tribe in Keshena, Wisconsin.
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LRLM   
Tribal   
LetsMove   
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of joining First Lady Michelle Obama as she launched the newest effort within the Let’s Move! initiative, Let’s Move Faith and Communities. Let’s Move! is the First Lady’s initiative to solve the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation.
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LRLM   
FaithBased   
LetsMove   
Administration