NEW YORK, Feb 15 (Reuters Health) -- Most US middle schools have physical
activity areas -- but few students visit these areas outside of physical
education classes, and many of those who do visit just "hang out" rather than
exercise, report California researchers.
With teen obesity levels rising, the finding suggests that a valuable
opportunity to encourage kids to exercise at school is being lost. More
structured programs and supervision to encourage more physical activity could
help, the study authors report.
The research team investigated the physical activity levels of boys and
girls over a 20-week period in 24 Southern California middle schools (grades 6
through 8). The researchers used a system called SOPLAY (System for Observing
Play and Leisure Activity in Youth) to assess the physical activity of
individual students during sports and leisure activities.
Each of the schools studied had enrollments of over 1,000 students. One
hundred fifty-one areas -- including swimming pools, weight rooms, gymnasiums,
and outdoor play areas and court spaces -- were targeted for observation by
certified SOPLAY assessors. These target areas were observed before and after
school and at lunchtime.
In their report, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, Dr. Thomas
L. McKenzie from San Diego State University in California and colleagues note
that even during lunchtime, only about 30% of boys and 8% of girls visited
physical activity areas at their school. More boys than girls used activity
areas, and boys were more physically active than girls before school and at
lunchtime.
But the most prominent activity observed in both sexes was "no
identifiable sport, game, or exercise." Of games played, basketball was the most
common sport played by either sex.
The study also indicated that although school facilities were available
for physical activity, school officials made little effort to provide equipment,
supervision, or structured activities.
"The pressing need for interventions to increase leisure-time physical
activity at multiple settings including schools is demonstrated by the rising
prevalence of youth obesity, the multiple health problems associated with
physical inactivity during youth, and the high proportion of young people who do
not meet health-related physical activity guidelines," McKenzie's team
concludes.
Dr. Jay Noffsinger, professor of pediatrics and head of pediatric sports
medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri, is concerned
about the level of fitness in middle schoolers. "This study produced some pretty
appalling results that are not at all surprising," Noffsinger told Reuters
Health. "Kids in the age group studied don't take the opportunities they are
offered to participate in physical activities."
"Prepubertal children are innately aerobically fit, but during early
adolescence that fitness starts to decline rapidly," he explained. "At that
point, young adolescents have to engage in regular aerobic activity to not lose
fitness. Unfortunately, that usually doesn't happen."
"Today, free play is a safety issue, and the middle school environment is
often more safe for physical activity and sports than outdoor play at home.
School facilities are available, but they are not being used. It makes sense to
encourage adolescents to be more active in the school setting, where
participating in sports and games is safe," Noffsinger recommended.
