Feature Story

December 2018

Physical Activity for Kids Gets Low Grade

By Dave Ramont

The National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) is a "comprehensive set of policies, programs and initiatives that aim to increase physical activity in all segments of the U.S. population." And the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance (NPAPA) is a coalition of national organizations joining forces to ensure the long term success of the plan.

Recently, NPAPA released its 2018 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, which aims to assist teachers, parents, health professionals, community leaders and other decision-makers with implementing new policies, initiatives and programs designed to increase kids' physical activity levels, as well as providing accountability. And while there were encouraging signs related to opportunities and infrastructure supporting physical activity in children and youth, the overall physical activity grade was a disappointing D-.

The Report Card includes individual state data and gives grades for nine specific indicators of a child's access to and participation in physical activity, as well as recommendations for how grades can be improved. The Organized Sport Participation and Community and Built Environment indicators both received a 2018 grade of C. The Physical Fitness indicator was given a C-, while the Sedentary Behaviors indicator received a D. Overall Physical Activity, Active Transportation and School were all given a D-, while the Active Play and Family and Peers indicators each received a grade of Incomplete.

The 2018 Report Card also identifies gaps existing in certain demographics. For instance, regarding gender, approximately 35 percent of high school boys, but only 18 percent of high school girls report participating in at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity. And when it comes to age, those aged 6 to 11 take part in more physical activity (88 minutes a day) compared to those aged 12 to 15 (33 minutes), and 16 to 19 (26 minutes).

When it comes to place of residence, children aged 6 to 11 residing in high-crime neighborhoods participate in less physical activity than those living in low-crime neighborhoods. And safe neighborhood park access was linked to more physical activity among adolescents aged 12 to 17.

Children with mobility limitations may engage in less physical activity than those without limitations; 58 percent of boys aged 5 to 11 years with long-term mobility limitations met physical activity recommendations compared to 75 percent of boys without limitations.

Some positive highlights include:

• More than 50 percent of children and high-schoolers played on a sports team in the past year.
• Approximately 75 percent of 6- to 17-year-olds live in neighborhoods with sidewalks or walking paths, or with a park or playground area.
• Approximately 65 percent of school districts have policies requiring elementary schools to provide regularly scheduled recess, with another 31 percent of districts recommending they do so.
• Most school districts have policies requiring schools to meet the physical education needs of students with disabilities.
• More than half of kids aged 6 to 15 have adequate muscular endurance.

Russell Pate, board chair for NPAPA, said that while the positive results are encouraging and provide a glimpse into what's possible, there's no denying that the overall grades remain critically low. "This report card should generate a renewed sense of urgency to take the action needed for the sake of our children and their future."