A Snapshot of Children’s Physical Fitness in California
A look at kidsdata.org shows that 38% of all California 5th, 7th, and 9th graders were considered overweight or obese in 2010 according to federal standards.
In addition, only 32% of California 7th graders met all fitness standards in 2011. In order to meet the standards of the California Fitness Test, students must score in the “Healthy Fitness Zone” on 6 out of 6 tests. According to our recent weight and fitness data advisory, 25% of 5th graders, 32% of 7th graders, and 37% of 9th graders met all state fitness standards.
Despite these statistics, severe budget constraints have meant that many California schools have cut gym classes from their budgets or are considering doing so, according to an article by New American Media.
Physical activity is vital for children. Regular exercise helps build healthy bones and muscles, lowers the risk of becoming obese, and promotes overall psychological and physical well-being, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kids who exercise at an early age also increase their odds at maintaining this healthy habit as adults.
See related data on kidsdata.org:
– Students Meeting All Fitness Standards by Grade Level: 2011
– Overweight/Obese Students (Federal Definition): 2010
– Weight and Fitness Data for Students in Your Community Advisory 2012
Posted by Lindsey Nguyen
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 9th, 2012 at 12:18 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.