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Children
Missing Physical Activity!
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CDC has developed a youth
media campaign entitled VERB®, It's What you Do, a national
initiative to encourage children aged 9-13 years to develop habits of
high levels of regular physical activity. To provide a baseline assessment
of their physical activity levels and types of usual activities, CDC conducted
the first national telephone survey of a nationally representative sample
of children aged 9-13 years and their parents. Organized (supervised by
a coach or leader) and free-play activities after-school and on weekends
were the objects of interest; school activities were excluded.
This survey indicated
that 61.5% of children aged 9-13 years do not participate in any organized
physical activity during non-school hours and 22.6% do not engage in any
free-time physical activity. Fewer children aged 9-13 years reported involvement
in organized sports (38.5%) than in free-time physical activity (77.4%)
during the week preceding the survey. Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic
children were significantly less likely than non-Hispanic white children
to be in organized activities, as were children whose parents had lower
income and education. Regardless of race/ethnicity, age, or gender, the
three most common organized activities were baseball/softball, soccer,
and basketball.
Overall, regardless of
age or sex, children reported that their most frequent free-time activities
were riding bicycles and playing basketball. Parents shared perceptions
of five potential barriers to their child's participation in physical
activities: transportation problems, lack of opportunities to participate
in physical activities in their area, costs, parents' lack of time, and
neighborhood safety. Overall, parents with lower incomes and education
levels reported more barriers. Although most children engage in some freetime
activity, increased rates of participation in both free-time and organized
physical activities are needed, especially for non-Hispanic black and
Hispanic children. Increasing levels of physical activity in this age
group needs innovative strategies. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
MMWR 2003; 52(33):785-788).
Comment: This
is a sad commentary about children at the ages we assume would have abundant
opportunities for daily free and structured physical activity. Now we
have to plan "Walk Your Child to School" events. VERB® was
introduced to general and target markets (Hispanic/Latino, African American,
American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian American) in eight cities. -J.O.
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