Fed Unveils First Physical Activity Guidelines for Kids

By SLJ Staff -- School Library Journal, 10/13/2008

Kids who have at least one hour or more of physical activity a day gain substantial health benefits, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In its first-ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the federal government has outlined a comprehensive set of recommendations for people of all ages and physical conditions, describing the types and amounts of physical activity that offer them substantial health gains.

One hour or more of moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity a day (like bike riding, jumping rope, running, and sports such as soccer, basketball and ice or field hockey), including vigorous intensity physical activity at least three days a week (such as hiking, skateboarding, bicycle riding, and brisk walking) is the recommendation for children and adolescents.

Incorporating muscle-strengthening activities, such as rope climbing, sit-ups, and tug-of war, three days a week is also recommended, as are bone-strengthening activities, such as jumping rope, running and skipping.

The recommended amount of physical activity in kids and teens improves cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as well as bone health, and contributes to favorable body composition, say the guidelines.

Adults, by comparison, gain substantial health benefits from two and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, which can help reduce the risk of early death; coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression, the recommendations say.

 “It’s important for all Americans to be active, and the guidelines are a roadmap to include physical activity in their daily routine,” says HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. “The evidence is clear—regular physical activity over months and years produces long-term health benefits and reduces the risk of many diseases.”

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are the most comprehensive of their kind and are based on the first thorough review of scientific research about physical activity and health in more than a decade. A 13-member advisory committee appointed in April 2007 by Leavitt reviewed the research and produced an extensive report.  

For more information about the “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans,” visit www.hhs.gov or www.health.gov/paguidelines.