It is important to encourage young peple to be physically active because the choices that children make today and the behaviors that they learn now will have lasting effects on their health.

It has been well documented that physical activity reduces the risk of many aderse helath outcomes. Major research findings compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) state that some physical activity is better than none, and that benefits occur as the amount of physical activity increases through higher intensity, greater frequency, and/or longer duration.

But how much physical activity is enough? In 2007, a scientific advisory committee set out to answer that question by conducting an extensive analysis of scientific information on physical activity and health. In 2018 they published an updated document detailing their results as the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

Key Guidelines for Children & Adolecents

According to the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, a publication of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, youth should follow these guidelines:

To achieve these goals, youth need to be active at home, school, at play, during the weekends, and in the community!