Despite efforts to highlight the problems of obesity and the need for greater physical activity in the school day, research released from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) show that half of students and school-age youth are not getting enough physical activity report.
In addition, the report showed that fewer than one out of three students eat fruits and vegetables daily.
For the survey, the NIH polled nearly 10,000 students between the ages of 11 and 16 in 39 states. The adolescents surveyed fell into three categories: Unhealthful (26 percent), healthful (27 percent) and typical (47 percent). The “unhealthful” students consumed the most sweets, chips, french fries and soft drinks, and were more likely than other groups to watch television, play computer games. From the NIH site:
“All three groups could stand to improve their health habits, Dr. Iannotti said, whether walking or biking between home and school or eating more fresh produce each day.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, children and adolescents should get one hour or more of moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity a day, including vigorous intensity physical activity at least three days a week.”
Source: NIH http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2013/nichd-25.htm
