| RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Schools need more mandatory physical
education classes and parents need to unplug TVs and video games, say researchers who
concluded that most young Americans, particularly blacks and females, are far too
sedentary.
The nationwide study of adolescent physical activity was conducted by researchers at
the University of North Carolina and published in the June issue of Pediatrics.
Lead author Penny Gordon-Larsen blamed the problems on the decline in comprehensive
physical education curricula in U.S. schools and habitual TV viewing and video-game
playing among youngsters.
''Even though it's a particular problem for minorities, it's a problem for all
kids,'' said Gordon-Larsen, a postdoctoral fellow at the university's Carolina
Population Center.
Youngsters who don't get enough exercise could be at greater risk for problems such
as obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
Gordon-Larsen and her colleagues analyzed data on more than 17,700 middle school and
high school students from a 1996 population center survey of adolescent health and
behavior.
Based on self-reported data, students were grouped by levels of activity and
inactivity. Activity was characterized by frequency, from zero to five times a week, and
by intensity, with activities such as cycling and martial arts ranking higher than less
strenuous activities.
Inactivity was characterized by the number of hours spent each week watching
television or videos and playing video and computer games.
Researchers also studied environmental and demographic variables, finding that
involvement in physical education classes and use of community recreation center were
key to healthy activity rates.
Overall, youngsters who had PE class five times a week were more than twice as likely
to be highly active. Those who had PE one to four times a week were 44% more likely to
be highly active.
''The fact that PE had such a dramatic impact was a big surprise,'' Gordon-Larsen
said. ''We knew it had an impact, but we had no idea that is was this strong.''
Only one-fifth of the youngsters surveyed were enrolled in a PE class, and 15% of the
youngsters had PE five times a week. Middle school students were more likely than high
school students to take PE, and males more likely than females.
Michael Goran of the Institute of Prevention Research at the University of Southern
California said the study helps quantify factors thought to be associated with
inactivity.
''I think that we've known that children are less active,'' he said. ''I think this
may be one of the first studies that shows this can be partially explained by
environmental constraints or environmental factors.''
In a seemingly contradictory finding, blacks were more likely than whites to be
enrolled in PE classes and use recreation centers, but were found to be less active.
''It's a little confusing; we really need more information to understand why that is
happening,'' said Gordon-Larsen.
Moreover, some highly active youngsters could simultaneously be considered highly
inactive, based on their television viewing habits.
Russell Pate of the University of South Carolina's School of Public Health said the
trend toward fewer PE requirements in high schools, as outlined in a 1996 report by the
U.S. surgeon general, is only one factor in childhood inactivity.
''I don't think solving this problem is nearly as simple as saying, 'Let's get kids
in PE classes more frequently,'' he said.
Educators must ensure that students enrolled in PE actually participate, and that
they learn the physical and behavioral skills.
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