'Most youth are not meeting physical activity guidelines, and schools are a key venue for providing physical activity. School districts can provide physical activity opportunities through the adoption, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of policies,' investigators in the United States report (see also Physical Activity and Health).
'This paper reports results of a 2009 survey of California school governance leaders on the barriers and opportunities to providing school-based physical activity and strategies to promote adoption of evidence-based policies. California school board members (n = 339) completed an 83 item online survey about policy options, perceptions, and barriers to improving physical activity in schools. Board members' highest rated barriers to providing physical activity were budget concerns, limited time in a school day, and competing priorities. The key policy opportunities to increase physical activity were improving the quantity and quality of physical education, integrating physical activity throughout the school day, supporting active transportation to/from school, providing access to physical activity facilities during nonschool hours, and integrating physical activity into before/after school programs,' wrote L. Cox and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: 'Survey findings were used to develop policy resources and trainings for school governance leaders that provide a comprehensive approach to improving physical activity in schools.'
Cox and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health (Engaging School Governance Leaders to Influence Physical Activity Policies. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 2011;8(Suppl. 1):S40-S48).
For additional information, contact L. Cox, California Project LEAN, California Dept. of Public Health, Sacramento, CA, USA.
The publisher of the Journal of Physical Activity & Health can be contacted at: Human Kinetics Publ Inc., 1607 N Market St., PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-2200, USA.
Keywords: City:Sacramento, State:CA, Country:United States, Physical Activity and Health
This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com.
