Physical education provides opportunities for developmentally appropriate physical activity, usually structured to promote motor skill development, fitness, and health. 128) and designed to target a particular outcome, for example, cardiorespiratory capacity or another component of fitness. Exercise, a subset of physical activity, is “planned, structured and repetitive” (Carpersen et al., 1985, p. 17), physical activity, a behavior, is defined as bodily movement that increases energy expenditure, whereas fitness is a physiologic trait, commonly defined in terms of cardiorespiratory capacity (e.g., maximal oxygen consumption), although other components of fitness have been defined (IOM, 2012b). (See Box 3-1 for an overview of the relationship between physical activity and physical fitness.)Īs noted in Chapter 1 (see the box titled “Key Terms Used in This Report” on p. This lack of participation in physical activity has contributed to a greater prevalence of pediatric obesity, a decrease in fitness (e.g., flexibility, muscular strength, cardiorespiratory capacity), and a greater risk for disease (Boreham and Riddoch, 2001 Eisenmann, 2003 Malina, 2007 Steele et al., 2008). Behaviorally, most children fail to engage in vigorous- or moderate-intensity physical activity for the recommended 60 minutes or more each day, with as many as one-third reporting no physical activity in the preceding 5 days (CDC, 2012). Children today weigh more and have a higher body mass index (BMI) than their peers of just a generation earlier (Ogden et al., 2012). Technological advances of modern society have contributed to a sedentary lifestyle that has changed the phenotype of children from that of 20 years ago. The behaviors and traits of today’s children, along with their genetics, are determinants of their growth and development their physical, mental, and psychosocial health and their physical, cognitive, and academic performance. Distinct types of physical activity address unique health concerns and contribute in distinct ways to children’s health, suggesting that a varied regimen including aerobic and resistance exercise, structured and unstructured opportunities, and both longer sessions and shorter bouts will likely confer the greatest benefit. Frequent bouts of physical activity throughout the day yield short-term benefits for mental and cognitive health while also providing opportunities to practice skills and building confidence that promotes ongoing engagement in physical activity.To be effective, physical activity programming must align with the predictable developmental changes in children’s exercise capacity and motor skills, which affect the activities in which they can successfully engage.Health-related behaviors and disease risk factors track from childhood to adulthood, indicating that early and ongoing opportunities for physical activity are needed for maximum health benefit.Sedentary behaviors such as sitting and television viewing contribute to health risks both because of and independently of their impact on physical activity.These attributes in turn are important determinants of current and future participation in physical activity. Physical activity programming specifically designed to do so can improve psychosocial outcomes such as self-concept, social behaviors, goal orientation, and most notably self-efficacy.Physical activity can improve mental health by decreasing and preventing conditions such as anxiety and depression, as well as improving mood and other aspects of well-being.Specifically, physical activity reduces the risk for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, obesity, and metabolic syndrome improves various other aspects of health and fitness, including aerobic capacity, muscle and bone strength, flexibility, insulin sensitivity, and lipid profiles and reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. Regular physical activity promotes growth and development and has multiple benefits for physical, mental, and psychosocial health that undoubtedly contribute to learning.
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