Physical Activity Initiative - President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition

Physical Activity Initiative

We all want children to grow up healthy and with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in life. A big part of being healthy for children is getting the recommended level of physical activity—at least 60 minutes daily. Studies show that physical activity not only helps kids stay active and healthy, but it can enhance important skills like concentration and problem solving, which can improve academic performance. Learn more about how you can make sure our children are on the path to an active and healthy life.

Public Service Announcements

The President's Council has launched a new physical activity outreach initiative highlighting the physical and cognitive benefits of regular activity for youth. The initiative includes the following national public service announcements:

The Most Important Game: President’s Council co-chair Drew Brees is featured in the :30 TV PSA, “The Most Important Game”, that highlights the benefits of physical activity for children.
To Succeed In Life: President’s Council co-chair Dominique Dawes is featured in the :30 TV PSA, “To Succeed in Life”, that highlights the benefits of physical activity for children.
Physical Activity. It's the Winning Pass in Life.: President’s Council co-chair Drew Brees is featured in this print PSA that highlights the benefits of physical activity for children.
Physical Activity. It's the Winning Edge in Life.: President’s Council co-chair Dominique Dawes is featured in this print PSA that highlights the benefits of physical activity for children.
Physical Activity = Better Academic Performance: This print PSA features youth that highlights the benefits of physical activity for children.
Physical Activity = Better Academic Performance: This print PSA features an adolescent boy that highlights the benefits of physical activity for children.
“The Most Important Game” Drew Brees Radio PSA: President’s Council co-chair Drew Brees is featured in the :30 radio PSA,“The Most Important Game”, that highlights the benefits of physical activity for children.
“To Succeed in Life” Dominique Dawes Radio PSA: President’s Council co-chair Dominique Dawes is featured in the :30 radio PSA, “To Succeed In Life”, that highlights the benefits of physical activity for children.

Check out the President's Council's ideas on ways to be active to get your kids moving today.

The Benefits of Physical Activity

Physical activity has many health benefits. It can help children maintain a healthy weight and build healthy bones, muscles, and joints. It also puts them on the path to a healthier lifestyle, which is important, considering that active children are more likely to become active and healthy adults. Compared with those who are not active, physically active youth have higher levels of aerobic fitness, stronger muscles, and stronger bones.

In addition to the health benefits, physical activity has a strong impact on academic performance and social skills. Research shows that 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity can help children in the following ways:

Improved test scores, grades, and time management skills
Boosted concentration, memory and classroom behavior
Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
Strengthened social and cooperative skills, such as teamwork and problem solving
Reduced anxiety and stress

Studies show that physically active students score higher on standardized tests and have better grades, particularly in math, English and reading. Recess and classroom activity breaks show positive association with indicators of cognitive skills, attitudes, and academic behavior and achievement.¹ When children are active their blood flow increases, improving memory and concentration, which are essential in the classroom, and hormones are released that can improve their mood and reduce anxiety and stress.²

Learn more about the importance of being active.

Physical Activity Facts

By encouraging physical activity, we empower our children to be healthy.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that young people aged 6–17 years participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.³
Only one in three children achieves the minimum amount of physical activity they need each day.⁴
Physical activity is particularly important among children with physical disabilities, as 22.5% of children with disabilities are obese compared to 16% of children without disabilities.
In 2011, 29% of high school students surveyed had participated in at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity on all 7 days before the survey.⁴
Children spend an average of more than seven-and-a-half hours a day in front of a screen, inside watching TV, playing video games, or surfing the Web.⁵
Participation in physical activity declines as young people age.⁴

Resources

Many organizations work to ensure that our nation's children have daily physical activity. Visit their websites for additional information and resources.

Let's Move in Schools! : The goal of Let's Move in School, a program of AAPHERD, is to ensure that every school provides a comprehensive school physical activity program with quality PE as the foundation so that youth will develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. Check out their great tools and resources !
National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE): NASPE's mission is to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality PE, sport, and physical activity programs. NASPE sets the standard for best practices in quality PE and sport. NASPE is the largest of the five national associations that make up AAHPERD.
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD): AAHPERD is the largest organization supporting and assisting professionals involved in PE, recreation, fitness, sport and coaching, dance, health education and promotion, and all specialties related to achieving a healthy and active lifestyle.
Making Health Easier : Making Health Easier is an interactive social networking site where Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded communities and their partners can share stories and resources around obesity and tobacco issues. Learn about how kids who are physically active get better grades with this infographic.

References

¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The association between school based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.

²Singh A, Uijtdewilligen L, Twisk JR, van Mechelen W, Chinapaw MM. Physical Activity and Performance at School: A Systematic Review of the Literature Including a Methodological Quality Assessment. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012;166(1):49-55.

³U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2008.

⁴Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2011. MMWR 2012;61(SS-4).

⁵Rideout, Victoria J., Foehr, Ulla G., and Roberts, Donald F. Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. Rep. Menlo Park: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010.