Law Provides $5 Million for Physical Education in 2001

Jan 12 (Heart Center Online) - A recent press release from the American Heart Association celebrated the passage of the Physical Education for Progress (PEP) Act in late 2000, which allocated $5 million for improving elementary school fitness programs during this fiscal year, and hundreds of millions of dollars for the same purpose over the next four years.

Improving the fitness of America's youth is an increasingly vital concern. Today's children are much less active than children of 20 years ago. They are more likely to sit in front of computer screens and TV sets instead of going outside to play. As a result, many are taking in more energy through food (calories) than they are expending through metabolic functions and physical activity, leading to weight gain.

According to the American Heart Association, almost five million children between the ages of 6 and 17 are considered obese, with many more classified as overweight. The problem of weight gain among American children is rapidly becoming a national crisis, as increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed with illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

The passage of PEP was described as a "major step toward improving the overall health and fitness of the nation's youth," by William J. Bryant, Chairman of the Board at the American Heart Association. Parents who are interested in encouraging their children to exercise more at home might benefit from reading the section, "What can parents do if their child is obese or might become obese?" in Heart Center Online's article on Childhood Obesity.

Copyright 2001 Heart Center Online