Physical Activity in California: A Case for Action

Impact of Our Environment and Policies

The landmark document, Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General recommends that, for a multitude of health-related benefits, all adults should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, if not all days of the week. Persons already achieving this level can gain even greater health and fitness benefits by increasing the duration and/or intensity of their physical activity.

Guidelines subsequent to the Surgeon General Report recommend that children and youth should be physically active for at least 60 minutes per day for a variety of physical and mental health benefits. Children and youth can attain physical activity recommendations in the framework of free play, games, transportation, physical education, intra- and inter-mural school programs, organized sports, indoor and outdoor recreation, structured exercise and work.

Despite the many health-related benefits and potential ways of being physically active the majority of California adults, and an increasing number of California children and youth, do not do meet the current physical activity guidelines. The primary cause is that physical activity has gradually been engineered out of our lives. Over the past 20-30 years, several secular trends have undeniably resulted in the promotion of sedentary behavior while discouraging physical activity. These trends have caused a significant decrease in incidental or routine daily physical activity. These trends include:

• Wide-spread use of high technology and labor saving devices reducing energy expended at work and home

• Increased time spent watching television, using computers, and playing video games

• Construction of cities and neighborhoods in a manner that necessitates or promotes motorized travel and discourages walking and bicycling

• Renewed emphasis on academic standards resulting in shorter school days and reductions in recess and school-based physical education

• Less devotion of indoor school space solely for physical education, especially in elementary and middle schools

• Adoption of media and marketing practices promoting quick and easy improvements to physical fitness, body composition and health via pharmaceutical, nutritional and other remedies

Copyright © California Center for Physical Activity.