Physical Activity Levels of High School Students—United States, 2010

High school students need more daily physical activity

High school students nationwide are not getting enough daily physical activity, according to the CDC 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study (NYPANS), a school-based study. The findings, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, emphasize the need for youth to increase levels of physical activity. Healthy People 2020 (HP 2020) objectives measure recommended levels of youth physical activity and are based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Youth aged 6 to 17 years need 1 hour of physical activity each day and muscle strengthening activity at least 3 days a week.

Among U.S. high school students in grades 9–12, in 2010:

  * Approximately 1 out of 10 (12.2%) met the HP 2020 objective for both aerobic and muscle strengthening activities.
  * Only 15.3% met the objective for daily aerobic activity.
  * 51.0% met the objective for muscle strengthening activity.

Additionally, high school females, older students, and those who are obese had lower rates of meeting the objective for both the aerobic and muscle strengthening activities:

  * Fewer female students (5.8%) than male students (18.5%) met the objective for both aerobic and muscle strengthening activities.
  * Fewer 12th grade students (10.3%) compared to 11th grade (10.7%), 10th grade (12.3%), and 9th grade (15.0%) students met the objective for both aerobic and muscle strengthening activities.
  * Fewer obese students (7.3%) compared to overweight (13.6%) and under / normal weight (13.3%) students met the objective for both aerobic and muscle strengthening activities.

Communities can support enhancing school-based PE programs to have longer classes, or increased activity levels in PE classes. They can create or enhance access to places for physical activity and, as importantly, promote those places.

More Information

  * View full article: (MMWR) Physical Activity Levels of High School Students—United States, 2010
  * NYPANS Survey Summary
  * Podcast on Physical Activity
  * CDC Physical Activity
  * Childhood obesity prevention activities
  * CDC’s State-based Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity program
  * CDC’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work program
  * Let’s Move! Campaign
  * Safe Routes to School program
  * The National Physical Activity Plan
  * Database of State Legislative and Regulatory Action to Prevent Obesity and Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity