Physical Activity Facts

​

​

 

 

• Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

• 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.

• 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, and only 31% attended physical education class daily.

• Schools can promote physical activity through comprehensive school physical activity programs, including recess, classroom-based physical activity, intramural physical activity clubs, interscholastic sports, and physical education.

• Schools should ensure that physical education is provided to all students in all grades and is taught by qualified teachers.

• Schools can also work with community organizations to provide out-of-school-time physical activity programs and share physical activity facilities.

 

 

​

​

Benefits of Regular Physical Activity

​

• Helps build and maintain healthy bones and muscles.

• Helps reduce the risk of developing obesity and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and colon cancer.

• Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety and promotes psychological well-being.

• May help improve students’ academic performance, including

  • Academic achievement and grades

  • Academic behavior, such as time on task

  • Factors that influence academic achievement, such as concentration and attentiveness in the classroom.

​

​

Long-Term Consequences of Physical Inactivity

​

• Overweight and obesity, which are influenced by physical inactivity and poor diet, can increase one’s risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and poor health status.

• Physical inactivity increases one’s risk for dying prematurely, dying of heart disease, and developing diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure.

Participation in Physical Activity by Young People

• In a nationally representative survey, 77% of children aged 9–13 years reported participating in free-time physical activity during the previous 7 days.
   

• In 2011, only 29% percent of high school students had participated in at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity on each of the 7 days before the survey.
   

• Fourteen percent of high school students had not participated in 60 or more minutes of any kind of physical activity on any day during the 7 days before the survey.
   

• Participation in physical activity declines as young people age.

 

​

Percentage of High School Students Participating in

Physical Activity and Physical Education

	Type of Activity Females Males    At least 60 minutes/day of physical activity 18.5% 38.3% Attended physical education class daily 27.2% 34.6%
Any kind of physical activity that increased heart rate and made them breathe hard some of the time for at least 60 minutes per day on each of the 7 days before the survey.​   ​ Attended physical education classes 5 days in an average week when they were in school.