Study calls for daily PE classes | EdNewsColorado

Study calls for daily PE classes | EdNewsColorado:

Study calls for daily PE classes

by Ann Schimke

Students at Red Hawk Elementary participate in
an all-school movement break with Principal Cyrus Weinberger.
Photo courtesy of  Red Hawk Elementary School

A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that instituting daily physical education classes for children would boost moderate to vigorous physical activity by 23 minutes a day, more than one-third of the 60 minutes recommended by federal guidelines.

The study, which was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, assessed a variety of policy changes, quantifying each based on the amount of physical activity it would add to a child’s day.
In addition to adding daily P.E. classes, the study found that incorporating classroom physical activity breaks and increasing walking or biking to school would also make a significant dent in the recommended minimum. Physical activity breaks would add 19 minutes a day and walking or biking to school would add 16 minutes a day.
Despite the federal recommendation that children 6-17 get 60 minutes of physical activity a day, only 49 percent