Physical activity levels among children aged 9-13 years— United States, 2002. (Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, MMWR. 2003;52:785-788)

Abstract

Three national health objectives for 2010 (objectives no. 22-6, 22-7, and 22-11) aim to increase levels of physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior among children and adolescents. 1 To promote a healthy, more active lifestyle among U.S. youth, CDC developed the Youth Media Campaign (YMC), a national initiative to encourage children aged 9-13 years to engage in and maintain high levels of regular physical activity. To provide a baseline assessment of physical activity levels among children aged 9-13 years, CDC conducted the YMC Longitudinal Survey (YMCLS), a nationally representative survey of children aged 9-13 years and their parents. This report presents data from the survey, which indicate that 61.5% of children aged 9-13 years do not participate in any organized physical activity during their nonschool hours and that 22.6% do not engage in any free-time physical activity. Improving levels of physical activity among this population …