Daily Physical Activity Urged for
Children and Youth

Citing the increasing rates of obesity and numerous studies outlining the benefits of regular vigorous physical activity, the American Heart Association issued a statement urging schools to include 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity in every child's school day, whether in PE classes or extracurricular activities.
  
An increased emphasis on high stakes testing was found to lead to a decrease in PE class time and recess in many schools. Coupled with an increase in the amount of screen time among children and youth, the AHA found that many children and youth were not getting the recommended 60 minutes or more of physical activity every day. In fact only 8% of elementary schools provided PE daily or allocated the recommended 150 minutes/week.
  
During this back-to-school month the National Institute on Media and the Family urges parents to monitor the amount of physical activity their children are getting at school and at home, and limit their children's amount of screen time.
  
To learn more about the National Institute on Media and the Family's program to help children and families "Switch what you do. Switch what you view. Switch what you chew." see our website at: www.mediafamily.org/switch/welcome.shtml
  
To learn more about the American Heart Association's statement promoting physical activity in children and youth, visit their website at http://circ.ahajournals.org/ and search for "physical activity in children and youth."