Let's get moving: the need for more effective state-level physical education policies.
This study reviews obesity trends and physical education policies of 13 states with the highest and lowest youth obesity rates. A review of state policies for physical education was compared and analyzed. Although a majority of the states had physical education policies, they were typically not mandated and varied in time and grade-level requirements. However, little distinction in policies between states with higher and lower prevalence of obese youth was found. Financial and infrastructure support for the implementation and evaluation of physical education policies are needed, as well as innovative strategies including socioecological models to better address the obesity epidemic.
School of Social Work, School of Public Health (Dr Valerio), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. minab@umich.edu
Mina
M
Hong
Melissa A
MA
Valerio
Michael
M
Spencer
D000293:Adolescent; D019352:Censuses; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult