Children and the Need for Physical Activity Fact Sheet
Even though heart attack and stroke are rare in children, evidence suggests that the process leading to those conditions begins in childhood.
The 1987 National Children and Youth Fitness Study indicates that at least half of youth don't engage in physical activity that promotes longterm health and that less than 36 percent of elementary and secondary schools offer daily PE classes and that most classes were unlikely to foster lifelong physical activity.
A fitness testing program sponsored by the Chrysler Fund Amateur Athletic Union, which tracks fitness among 9.7 million youngsters between the ages of 6 and 17, shows that children are getting slower in endurance running and are getting weaker.
Since 1980 there has been a 10 percent drop off on scores for distance runs and an 11 percent decline in youngsters who achieved at least a satisfactory" score on the entire test.
The National Health Examination Survey found that as many as one in five children between the ages of 6 and 17 are overweight. From 1963 to 1980 obesity increased 54 percent among children 6 to 11 and 39 percent in adolescents 12 to 17. 16
14.2 million girls and 12.8 million boys age 19 and under have serum cholesterol levels of 170 mg./dl or higher. High serum cholesterol is most prevalent among African-American girls of all ages.
An estimated 2.1 million adolescents age 12 to 17 are smokers. Nine million American children under age five live with at least one smoker and are exposed to second-hand smoke for virtually the whole day. It is
estimated that 3,000 American young people become smokers every day.
Children spend an average of 17 hours a week watching TV in addition to the time they spend on video and computer games.
Inactive children are more likely to become inactive adults.
The following good health practices should be promoted among children:
regular physical activity
a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet after the age of two
smoking prevention
appropriate weight for height
regular pediatric medical checkups
