2009 Georgia Data Summary: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN YOUTH Inactive children and youth are more likely to become inactive adults, leading to increased health care costs. Youth do not get enough physical activity. Percentages of youth who meet requirements for recommended physical activity* in Georgia 55% of middle school students and 44% of high school students meet requirements for physical activity In both middle and high school, significantly more male students than female students are meeting the recommendations In a recent assessment over half (52%) of 5th and 7th grade students did not pass a cardiovascular health assessment 22% of 5th and 7th grade students did not meet standards of muscular strength, flexibility, and endurance Percent Percent of youth who meet requirements for physical activity in Georgia, 2007 100 80 64 60 45 40 20 0 Middle Middle School School M ales Females 57 35 Hig h Sch o ol Males Hig h Scho ol Females Policies and environments in schools and communities influence physical activity behaviors in children and youth. Schools Few middle school students (39%) and high school students (34%) attend daily physical education classes Only 44% of middle schools and 15% of high schools require students to attend daily physical education classes in each grade 66% of middle schools and 54% of high schools in Georgia offer intramural activities to students Most middle schools (86%) and high schools (78%) in Georgia allow use of the school's athletic facilities outside of school hours Communities Few middle school students (19%) and high school students (22%) in Georgia, who live one mile or less from school walk to school Traffic is a very common barrier to walking or biking to school among middle school students (18%) and high school students (12%) who live one mile or less from school Regular physical activity reduces risk for other medical conditions. Regularly physical activity reduces risk for the following medical conditions: - Hypertension - Obesity - Diabetes - Poor mental health - Arthritis or joint symptoms - Stroke Definition of recommended physical activity: *At least 60 minutes of physical activity on 5 or more days per week. Data source: 2007 Georgia Student Health Survey Philanthropic Collaborative for a Healthy Georgia. Georgia Youth Fitness Assessment 2006. Atlanta, Georgia, September 2007. 2006 School Health Profiles Survey Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Public Health 2 Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 657-3103 gdphinfo@dhr.state.ga.us http://health.state.ga.us