"Only 21.6% of 6 to 19-year
-old children and adolescents
in the United States attained
60 ormore minutes of
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on at least 5 days
per week."
Only 27.1% of high school students participate in at
least 60 minutes per day of physical activity on all
7 days of the week.
According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2nd edition:
​
Physical activity for children and adolescents should be fun, engaging and age appropriate.
"Children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate-to- vigorous physical activity daily:
​
• Aerobic: Most of the 60 minutes or more per day should be either moderate or vigorous-intensity
aerobic physical activity and should include vigorous intensity physical activity on at least 3 days a
week.
​
• Muscle-strengthening: As part of their 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days a week.
​
• Bone-strengthening: As part of their 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include bone-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days a week."
(HHS Office & Council on Sports, 2019)
In 2015, 53.4% of high
school students participated
in muscle strengthening exercises (e.g., push-ups, sit-ups, weight lifting) on 3 or more days during the
week.
In 2015, 51.6% of high
school students attended physical education classes
in an average week, and
only 29.8% of high school students attended physical education classes daily."
("CDC | Physical Activity | Facts | Healthy Schools", 2018)