A multidisciplinary panel of experts convened by the CDC recently made an explicit exercise recommendation for American children: School-age youth should participate every day in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity that is enjoyable and developmentally appropriate."
Increased Physical Activity Yields Healthier Kids, Say Experts
By News Staff
7/29/2005
The recommendation appeared in an article, "Evidence-Based Physical Activity for School-Age Youth," published in the June issue of The Journal of Pediatrics.
The panel of 13 experts drawn from numerous health disciplines systematically reviewed more than 850 articles and papers and sought input from representatives of invited professional organizations and governmental agencies in formulating their recommendation. The panelists considered a number of variables, including cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal health and fitness, mental health, asthma, academic performance, and injuries.
The new recommendation ups the ante from the most commonly accepted activity protocols for school-age children that currently call for 30 to 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous continuous exercise three to five days a week.
The study notes that the 60 minutes of physical activity can be cumulative throughout the day and may include school-based physical education, recess, intramural sports, and before- and after-school programs. The authors suggest that the restoration of intramural sports programs and a longer school day could help middle- and high-school students squeeze more physical activity into the school day.
"Both physical education and recess afford opportunities to achieve the daily physical activity goal without any evidence of compromising academic performance," says the study. The CDC recommends daily quality physical education time for all students from kindergarten through grade 12.
To reduce the risk of injury, children who have been inactive should increase their activity level 10 percent per week until the desired level is reached.
The study concludes that increasing routine moderate to vigorous physical activity in youth is a "health promotion and a disease-prevention strategy."
The panel of 13 experts drawn from numerous health disciplines systematically reviewed more than 850 articles and papers and sought input from representatives of invited professional organizations and governmental agencies in formulating their recommendation. The panelists considered a number of variables, including cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal health and fitness, mental health, asthma, academic performance, and injuries.
The new recommendation ups the ante from the most commonly accepted activity protocols for school-age children that currently call for 30 to 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous continuous exercise three to five days a week.
The study notes that the 60 minutes of physical activity can be cumulative throughout the day and may include school-based physical education, recess, intramural sports, and before- and after-school programs. The authors suggest that the restoration of intramural sports programs and a longer school day could help middle- and high-school students squeeze more physical activity into the school day.
"Both physical education and recess afford opportunities to achieve the daily physical activity goal without any evidence of compromising academic performance," says the study. The CDC recommends daily quality physical education time for all students from kindergarten through grade 12.
To reduce the risk of injury, children who have been inactive should increase their activity level 10 percent per week until the desired level is reached.
The study concludes that increasing routine moderate to vigorous physical activity in youth is a "health promotion and a disease-prevention strategy."
