title: Policy challenges in the fight against childhood obesity: low adherence in San Diego area schools to the California Education Code regulating physical education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess the adherence to the Physical Education (PE) requirements per California Education Code in San Diego area schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveys were administered anonymously to children and adolescents capable of physical activity, visiting a specialty clinic at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego. The main questions asked were their gender, grade, PE classes per week, and time spent doing PE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  324 surveys were filled, with 36 charter-school students not having to abide by state code excluded. We report on 288 students (59% females), mostly Hispanic (43%) or Caucasian (34%). In grades 1-6, 66.7% reported under the 200 min per 10 school days required by the PE code. Only 20.7% had daily PE. Average PE days/week was 2.6. In grades 7-12, 42.2% had reported under the 400 min per 10 school days required. Daily PE was noted in 47.8%. Average PE days/week was 3.4. Almost 17% had no PE, more so in the final two grades of high school (45.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is low adherence to the California Physical Education mandate in the San Diego area, contributing to poor fitness and obesity. Lack of adequate PE is most evident in grades 1-6 and grades 11-12. Better resources, awareness, and enforcement are crucial.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, 3020 Children's Way MC 5103, San Diego, CA 92123, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Consiglieri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leon-Chi
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Newfield
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012572:School Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012574:Schools / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors