Physical Activity Keeps Kids Healthy
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: Barbara K. Hecht, PhD
Pediatric experts agree that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can help keep kids healthy. In 2005, a 13-member panel of pediatric experts issued a strong recommendation that school-age children engage in a minimum of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, which is now the official recommendation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These agencies recommend that all children 2 years of age and older should get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exerciseon most, preferably all, days of the week.
This "moderate-to-vigorous" level of physical activity can be achieved by brisk walking, jumping rope, or playing basketball, soccer, or other sports.
Pediatric experts note that while children take in essentially the same number of calories as always, their amount of physical activity is drastically lower than that of children 10 to 20 years ago. The technology revolution has lead to an increase in the number of popular activities for children (such as video gaming and computer use) that do not require physical effort.
To arrive at these recommendations, members of the expert pediatric panel reviewed thousands of published research reports that examined the relationship of physical activity to children's mental and physical health.
Theoretically, 60 minutes of physical activity could be achieved by participation in school activities through a combination of daily physical-education classes, after-school sports programs, and recess activities. Unfortunately, physical education is not taken seriously by many schools or is allowed to slide when a student experiences academic difficulties.