How does physical activity in the U.S. measure up?

At a Congressional Fitness Caucus briefing in Washington, D.C. on April 29, Russ Pate, Ph.D., Chairman of the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) Alliance, revealed the first-ever United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, in collaboration with its Organizational Partner, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Dr. Katzmarzyk, Associate Executive Director for Population and Public Health Sciences at Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University, also spoke at the briefing.

U.S. Reps. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) kicked off the briefing, which included remarks from representatives of Designed to Move; SHAPE America; Ken Harvey, four-time Pro Bowl Washington Redskins linebacker; and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympic gold medalist.

The primary goal of the U.S. Report Card is to assess levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviors in American children and youth, facilitators and barriers for physical activity and related health outcomes.

The key indicators that were evaluated and graded as part of the U.S. Report Card include:

1. Overall Physical Activity: D-

2. Sedentary Behaviors: D

3. Active Transportation: F

4. Organized Sport Participation: C-

5. Active Play: INCOMPLETE

6. Health-Related Fitness: INCOMPLETE

7. Family and Peers: INCOMPLETE

8. School: C-

9. Community and the Built Environment: B-

10. Government Strategies and Investments: INCOMPLETE

Data from multiple nationally representative surveys were used to provide a comprehensive evaluation of physical activity for children and youth. The grades for the U.S. Report Card were assigned by the Report Card Research Advisory Committee using the most recent data available with consideration of published scientific literature and reports. The Report Card is the first in a historic series of national physical activity report cards in countries around the world that will be updated annually, providing an unprecedented global benchmark using a common methodology on this pivotal public health.

For the full U.S. Report Card or a summary edition, please visit: http://www.physicalactivityplan.org