Why Physical Education Belongs in Every School Schedule

Introduction: The Case for Physical Education

The importance of a good education cannot be underestimated. Children spend their most formative years attending school full time, and it is vital that the education and experiences received there are sufficient for preparing students for the complete range of life situations that lie ahead of them. Schools focus on the development of academic skills in traditional subjects such as language, mathematics, and the sciences. In fact, schools depend on the achievement of their students in these subjects for funding and federal support — policies such as President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" program base the rating, and therefore the financial support, of a school on its standardized test scores. Yet an equally important aspect of childhood development has long been a part of the traditional school curriculum: Physical Education.

Physical Education is an essential part of a well-balanced class schedule and a necessary component of overall education. The infamous gym class has received its share of both deserved and undeserved criticism, and the rift between students who are enthusiastic about physical education and those who despise it is one of the defining social separations throughout the school years. However, a well-planned and implemented physical education program can be not only enjoyable but also life-improving for all students. For many children, physical education in school is the only positive source of encouragement they will have to help them become physically active and achieve healthy levels of exercise.

"Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease. It also increases the risk of stroke and such other major cardiovascular risk factors as obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL ('good') cholesterol, and diabetes." (AHA, 2004) With these kinds of risks associated with physical inactivity, it seems obvious that physical education should be implemented with as much regularity as learning the ABCs. Physical education activity has been proven to have "physical, psychologic, and social benefits," and "inactive children are more likely to become inactive adults, and subsequently be at a higher risk for obesity, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke." (Sweeney, 2001) There is substantial statistical evidence that American children are not getting enough physical activity, and that both the benefits of healthy activity and the costs of inactivity developed during the school years will have a strong effect on adult health outcomes.

Statistics on Childhood Inactivity and Health Risk

To demonstrate the need for intensive physical activity programs in schools, it is worth examining several of the many relevant statistics released by government organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and professional publications such as the Journal of Pediatrics. Some reports have found that up to 40% of children between the ages of five and eight have health conditions that could significantly increase their chances of developing heart disease early in life (Maier, 2001). Heart-healthy habits are important for all children, and with such elevated risk factors, it is all the more important to ensure that children are treating their hearts well.

A troubling indicator of how unfit children are today is that some studies have shown that an average of 55% of children between the ages of six and thirteen cannot perform more than one pull-up because their muscles are not sufficiently developed (Maier, 2001). Approximately half of all teenagers do not get enough physical activity to maintain optimal health, and fewer than forty percent engage in any sustained physical activity on a daily basis. This is a serious concern because "inactivity is linked to 17 chronic diseases and heart conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and osteoporosis. It doubles the chances of heart disease." (Maier, 2001)

These diseases have the potential to destroy a child's present and future life and lead to premature death. Every year in the United States alone, approximately 400,000 deaths — representing 17% of total deaths — are caused by factors linked to physical inactivity and poor eating habits. These are preventable deaths. "A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor across the spectrum of preventable diseases that lower the quality of life and kill Americans. Poor diet and physical inactivity (combined) are rapidly approaching tobacco (435,000 deaths) as the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S." (PCPFS, 2004) Just as the anti-tobacco initiative is considered an important part of the agenda to protect children and educate them about healthy living, physical activity must be a part of that same agenda.

It can no longer be left entirely to children to decide whether and when to be physically active, nor can parents always be relied upon to instill these values. Western society today is designed to allow people to be as sedentary as possible. "Exercise is no longer a regular part of everyone's day — some children never walk or cycle to school, or play any kind of sport... 40–69% of children over the age of six spend less than the recommended minimum of one hour a day doing moderate intensity physical activity." (BUPA, 2004)

Economic and Long-Term Consequences of Inactivity

Some argue that physical activity choices should remain outside the school curriculum and be left to the individual, and that schools should focus on academic subjects that prepare children to become contributing members of the economy. However, physical education may itself be a significant factor in reducing economic strain, and this must not be overlooked.

Inactivity can lead to type 2 diabetes, among many other health problems. This condition affected more than 30 million Americans in 2003, with one million new cases and 200,000 deaths every year. Beyond the human toll, the disease represents an enormous financial burden: "The cost to the economy is $132 billion in direct and indirect medical costs." (PCPFS, 2004) Inactivity also leads very directly to weight problems. More than 108 million people in America are overweight or obese — approximately three-fifths of the entire population. "The cost of obesity (direct and indirect medical costs) is $117 billion per year." (PCPFS, 2004) These costs can be significantly reduced through proper physical education in school.

The school years form the paths that children will take into adulthood. It is during this time that children must have the best possible role models and guidance to develop positive habits and healthy decision-making skills. Just as children are best able to acquire skills such as speaking new languages or mastering arithmetic at a young age, physical activity during these years leaves a lasting impression on both mind and body. "Childhood and adolescence are pivotal times for preventing sedentary behavior among adults by maintaining the habit of physical activity throughout the school years." (PCPFS, 2004) A child who learns to exercise and participate in healthy activities in school is more likely to continue doing so as they grow older, continuing to reap the benefits of an active lifestyle.

The consequences of not learning these skills also persist as people age. "Being overweight in adolescence was a more powerful predictor of these risks than was being overweight as an adult. It is believed that physical activity patterns developed in childhood and adolescence influence adulthood lifestyle habits." (AAFP, 1994) Diseases once thought to exist almost exclusively in adults — such as type 2 diabetes (formerly called "adult-onset diabetes"), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease — are increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents due in part to inactivity. Inactive children show symptoms of such diseases much earlier and more frequently than those who remain physically fit (AAFP, 1994; PCPFS, 2004). These health risks are directly linked to obesity, and "children who are overweight tend to grow up into adults who are overweight." (BUPA, 2004)

"Young people are at particular risk for becoming sedentary as they grow older. Encouraging moderate and vigorous physical activity among youth is important. Because children spend most of their time in school, the type and amount of physical activity encouraged in schools are important." (PCPFS, 2004)

Bibliography

AHA. (2004). American Heart Association: Exercise (Physical Activity) and Children. Retrieved October 31, 2004, from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4596

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). (1994, November 1). Physical activity in children — U.S. Public Health Service. American Family Physician.

Balady, G., Blair, S. N., Blumenthal, J., Caspersen, C., Chaitman, B., Epstein, S., Fletcher, G., Froelicher, S., Froelicher, V., Pina, I. L., Pollock, M. L., & Sivarjan, E. S. (1996). Statement on exercise: Benefits and recommendations for physical activity programs for all Americans. Circulation, 94, 857–862.

BUPA. (2004, February). Avoiding childhood obesity. Health information factsheet. Retrieved October 31, 2004, from http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/child_obesity.html

Maier, T. W. (2001, August 27). Schools giving P.E. short shrift — physical education. Insight on the News.

PCPFS. (2004). The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports: Physical activity fact sheet. Retrieved October 31, 2004, from http://www.fitness.gov/resources_factsheet.htm

Sweeney, R. (2001, November 15). Report stresses need for physical education programs in schools — from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. American Family Physician.