Resources
Resources — Physical Activity
Action for Healthy Kids
Action for Healthy Kids is the only nonprofit organization formed specifically to address the epidemic of overweight, undernourished and sedentary youth by focusing on changes at school. Action for Healthy Kids state teams work in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to improve children's nutrition and increase physical activity, which will in turn improve their readiness to learn. This website contains updates on the state teams' respective efforts, tools and resources to assist in local wellness policy development, and offers downloadable, pdf versions of Action for Healthy Kids special reports.
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a partnership between the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation to fight one of our nation's leading health threats - childhood obesity. The Alliance's Healthy Schools Program provides resources and support for schools to become healthier places for staff and students. The program strives to: increase opportunities for students to exercise and play; put healthy foods and beverages in vending machines and cafeterias; and increase resources for teachers and staff to become healthy role models, schools participating in the program receive:
- Tools - Action plans, media kits, ways to create community buy-in
- Support - Phone hotline, online tools, e-assistance, trainings
- Business Assistance - Deals and packages with food and fitness companies
- Promising Practices - Success stories and collaboration with other schools
- National Recognition - Alliance recognition online and in print
American Obesity Association
The American Obesity Association's webpage contains a childhood obesity section. This section offers tips for families and schools in helping youth maintain a healthy weight. It also provides links to important articles and studies that discuss contributing factors to childhood overweight and obesity.
CDC, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
CDC, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA) takes a public health approach to address the role of nutrition and physical activity in improving the public's health and preventing and controlling chronic diseases. This site provides a wealth of resources on nutrition and physical activity. It provides information on several of CDC's campaigns that address healthy eating and physical fitness including the 5 A Day Program the Powerful Girls Powerful Bones webpage and Kids Walk-to-School Program .
Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn
The National Association of State Boards of Education's (NASBE's) Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn is series of publications created to assist state and local school policymakers in creating school health policies. Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn is organized around sample policies that reflect best practices, which can be adapted to fit local circumstances. The sample policies are written as statements of best practice that all states, school districts, public schools, and private schools should endeavor to adopt. School health topics covered in the sample policies cover tobacco use, physical activity, and healthy eating. The points addressed in the policies were suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's school health guidelines, actual state and local policies collected by the NASBE and the National School Boards Association.
Guidelines for School and Community Programs to Promote Lifelong Physical Activity Among Young People: Guidelines for School and Community Programs: March 07, 1997/46(RR-6);1-36
These guidelines summarize recommendations for encouraging physical activity among young people so that they will continue to engage in physical activity in adulthood and obtain the benefits of physical activity throughout life. These guidelines were developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with experts from universities and from national, federal, and voluntary agencies and organizations. They are based on an in-depth review of research, theory, and current practice in physical education, exercise science, health education, and public health. The guidelines include the following: - recommendations about 10 aspects of school and community programs to promote lifelong physical activity among young people - policies that promote enjoyable, lifelong physical activity; physical and social environments that encourage and enable physical activity - physical education curricula and instruction - health education curricula and instruction - extracurricular physical activity programs that meet the needs and interests of students - involvement of parents and guardians in physical activity instruction and programs for young people - personnel training - health services for children and adolescents - developmentally appropriate community sports and recreation programs that are attractive to young people - regular evaluation of physical - activity instruction, programs, and facilities.
A Parents Guide to Health Eating and Physical Activity
A Parent's Guide to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity was developed by the Preventive Medicine Institute/Strang Cancer Prevention Center Healthy Children Healthy Futures Program. This resource stresses the importance of parents serving as role models to their children by choosing healthy foods and exercising regularly. It offers parents helpful suggestions in creating a home environment that is supportive of healthy eating and physical activity. This 102 page guide includes: 8 Habits of Healthy Kids, fun and healthy recipes, and a list of healthy foods from each food group.
The President's Council on Physical Activity and Fitness
The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is an advisory committee of volunteer citizens who advise the President through the Secretary of Health and Human Services about physical activity, fitness, and sports in America. This website serves as a gateway to the many physical activity, fitness and health resources available on other government websites and on those of health-, fitness- and sports-related organizations. The President's Challenge and Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program is a community based physical activity program that encourages people of all ages to stay active and fit for life while earning awards.
Shape of the Nation Report
This report was supported by the professional members and leaders of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), an association of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), and by the volunteers and leaders of the American Heart Association (AHA). NASPE and AHA are committed to educating and advocating to the public and policymakers about the importance and need for quality physical education programs for all children in grades K to 12. The report provides current information on the status of physical education in each of the states and the District of Columbia in the following areas: – Time requirements – Exemptions/waivers and substitutions –Class size – Standards, curriculum, and instruction – Student assessment and program accountability – Physical education teacher certification/licensure – National Board Certification in physical education – Body mass index (BMI) collection.
Shape Up America!
The purpose of Shape Up America! is to educate the public on the importance of the achievement and maintenance of a healthy body weight through the adoption of increased physical activity and healthy eating. This website contains an impressive list of press releases addressing the physical activity needs of children and people of all ages.
VERB Campaign
VERB (TM) It's what you do. is a national, multicultural, social marketing campaign coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The VERB campaign encourages young people ages 9-13 (tweens) years to be physically active every day. The campaign combines paid advertising, marketing strategies, and partnership efforts to reach the distinct audiences of tweens and adults/influencers. > Return to Top |
