Physical Activity to Reduce Obesity Rates

Physical education classes have been dramatically reduced over the past 20 years due to budget cuts and schools wanting to improve student test performance by focusing solely on academics (www.sparkpe.org). This decision to remove recess from schools has resulted in children being less active throughout the school day, which restricts their opportunities to expend caloric energy, contributing to weight gain. The lack of physical education in schools has and continues to produce negative consequences for children in the U.S.

SPARK. (2012, January 30). Gambling with our Future, Part 2: Implications of Removing Physical Education from Schools. Retrieved July 4, 2012, from http://www.sparkpe.org/blog/category/physical-education-budgets/

One practice approach to reducing the rates of overweight and obese children involves the reintroduction physical education back into schools. SPARK, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing evidence-based physical education and nutrition programs to schools, has been working to reduce obesity rates among children and adolescence since 1989.  SPARK produced the two following videos to explain the problem of childhood obesity and detail their approach to creating a school environments that promote healthy physical activity. 

Childhood Obesity: Quality Physical Education as a Solution

Overview of SPARK Programs