Introduction
So much emphasis is being placed on standardized academic scores that time for physical activity is shrinking in our school system. In Florida, students in grades K - 5 shall have the equivalent of two 30-minute physical education classes per week taught by certified physical education teachers and provide a daily 15-minute recess for all students. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity daily. They highly recommend that schools take an active role in implementing policies to improve physical activity. Unfortunately, out of reach targets can undermine physical activity participation and with time constraints, curriculum and space limitations also. There are many barriers preventing schools from implementing an hour of physical activity each day. Therefore, accumulating at least moderate physical activity in short bouts throughout the day is a goal deemed easier to achieve and has many beneficial health effects, especially for those most at risk (Barr-Anderson et al., 2011; Janssen & LeBlanc, 2010). Maintaining an active lifestyle can have a positive impact on general health plus is related to …show more content…
The school environment is an ideal research location to reach all students with similar demographics and teach them the importance of being physically active throughout the day. Children attend school over seven hours each day. They not only learn at school, but they eat, socialize, and play which makes schools the most valuable place to study and implement physical activity breaks and nutritional behavior changes that may impact childhood obesity (Ball, Kovarik, & Leidy, 2015). Childhood obesity is a growing concern throughout the U.S. and other
So much emphasis is being placed on standardized academic scores that time for physical activity is shrinking in our school system. In Florida, students in grades K - 5 shall have the equivalent of two 30-minute physical education classes per week taught by certified physical education teachers and provide a daily 15-minute recess for all students. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity daily. They highly recommend that schools take an active role in implementing policies to improve physical activity. Unfortunately, out of reach targets can undermine physical activity participation and with time constraints, curriculum and space limitations also. There are many barriers preventing schools from implementing an hour of physical activity each day. Therefore, accumulating at least moderate physical activity in short bouts throughout the day is a goal deemed easier to achieve and has many beneficial health effects, especially for those most at risk (Barr-Anderson et al., 2011; Janssen & LeBlanc, 2010). Maintaining an active lifestyle can have a positive impact on general health plus is related to …show more content…
The school environment is an ideal research location to reach all students with similar demographics and teach them the importance of being physically active throughout the day. Children attend school over seven hours each day. They not only learn at school, but they eat, socialize, and play which makes schools the most valuable place to study and implement physical activity breaks and nutritional behavior changes that may impact childhood obesity (Ball, Kovarik, & Leidy, 2015). Childhood obesity is a growing concern throughout the U.S. and other