News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

More than 60% of California middle school students failed an annual physical fitness test. However, the scores represent a slight improvement (between 1% and 5%) over past years' performances. Schools that participated in the Governor's Challenge Competition, a program that encourages 30 to 60 minutes of daily physical activity, received higher scores than schools not in the program.

Experts on physical fitness, such as Dr. John Ratey of the Harvard Medical School, contend that higher levels of fitness go hand in hand with higher levels of academic achievement, which is why schools should encourage fitness.

Problems related to childhood obesity and overweight cost the California Department of Health Serves over $20 billion a year - more than 10 times the annual cost of fires and earthquakes.

Labels: health, exercise, fitness

Posted By: Aspen Education Group