Physical Activity, Adolescent - Attends Physical Education Class Daily
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Why Is This Important?
Physical activity is crucial to maintaining physical health. Among adolescents, regular physical activity helps improve bone health, body weight and composition, physical fitness and mental health. In addition, active adolescents are more likely to become active adults.
Definition
Percentage of students who attended physical education (PE) classes daily in an average week when they were in school.
Data Sources
- U.S. data source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data
(https://nccd.cdc.gov/Youthonline) - New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey, New Mexico Department of Health and Public Education Department.
How the Measure is Calculated
Numerator: | Number of students who responded, "5 days", to the question, "In an average week when you are in school, on how many days do you go to physical education (PE) classes?" |
Denominator: | Number of students who answered the question, "In an average week when you are in school, on how many days do you go to physical education (PE) classes?" |
Evidence-based Practices
"Requiring students to participate in quality physical education classes for specific time periods results in meaningful and consistent contributions to the total physical activity that young people need to enhance their health. Sufficient time in physical education can enable students to develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and confidence needed to adopt and maintain physically active lifestyles. States can help school districts and schools ensure that students spend sufficient time in physical education by: * Requiring daily physical education for all students or establishing time requirements (e.g., 150 minutes/week for elementary level; 225 minutes/week for secondary level) that lead to increased amounts of time spent in physical education. * Requiring school districts and schools to eliminate exemptions or waivers from physical education." Downloaded from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyYouth/policy/pdf/obesity_prevention_strategies.pdf on 01/12/2011.