H. Res. 1373 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

June 24, 2010. 

Whereas the week beginning May 2, 2010, is observed as National Physical Education and Sport Week; 

Whereas a decline in physical activity has contributed to an 

unprecedented epidemic of childhood obesity in the 

United States, which has more than tripled since 1980; 

Whereas regular physical activity is necessary to support normal and healthy growth in children and is essential to 

their continued health and well-being; 

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, overweight adolescents have a 70 to 80 percent chance of becoming overweight adults, increasing 

their risk for chronic disease, disability, and death; 

Whereas physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, 

high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain types of cancers; 

Whereas type 2 diabetes can no longer be referred to as ‘‘late 

in life’’ or ‘‘adult onset’’ diabetes because it occurs in 

children as young as 10 years old; 

Whereas the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, published by the Department of Health and Human Services, 

recommend that children engage in at least 60 minutes 
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of physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of 

the week; 

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, only 17 percent of high school students meet 

that goal of 60 minutes of physical activity a day; 

Whereas children spend many of their waking hours at school 

and therefore need to be active during the school day to 

meet the recommendations of the Physical Activity 

Guidelines for Americans; 

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, 1 in 4 children in the United States does not 

attend any school physical education classes and fewer 

than 1 in 4 children in the United States engage in 20 

minutes of vigorous physical activity each day; 

Whereas teaching children about physical activity and sports 

not only ensures that they are physically active during 

the school day, but also educates them on how to be 

physically active and the importance of being physically 

active; 

Whereas, according to a 2006 survey by the Department of 

Health and Human Services, 3.8 percent of elementary 

schools, 7.9 percent of middle schools, and 2.1 percent of 

high schools provide daily physical education classes or 

the equivalent for the entire school year, and 22 percent 

of schools do not require students to take any physical 

education classes at all; 

Whereas, according to that survey, 13.7 percent of elementary schools, 15.2 percent of middle schools, and 3.0 percent of high schools provided physical education at least 

3 days per week, or the equivalent thereof, for the entire 

school year for students in all grades in the school; 
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Whereas research shows that fit and active children are more 

likely to thrive academically; 

Whereas increased time in physical education classes can improve children’s attention and concentration and result in 

higher test scores; 

Whereas participation in sports teams and physical activity 

clubs, which are often organized by schools and run outside the regular school day, can improve students’ grade 

point averages, attachment to schools, educational aspirations, and the likelihood of graduating; 

Whereas participation in sports and other physical activities 

also improves self-esteem and body image in children and 

adults; 

Whereas children and youth who take part in physical activity 

and sports programs develop improved motor skills, 

healthy lifestyles, improved social skills, a sense of fair 

play, strong teamwork skills, and self-discipline and avoid 

risky behaviors; 

Whereas the social and environmental factors affecting children are in the control of the adults and the communities 

in which children live, and therefore the Nation shares a 

collective responsibility in reversing the childhood obesity 

trend; 

Whereas efforts to improve the fitness level of children who 

are not physically fit may also result in improvements in 

academic performance; and 

Whereas the House of Representatives strongly supports efforts to increase physical activity and participation of 

youth in sports: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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(1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Physical 

Education and Sport Week’’; 

(2) recognizes the central role of physical education 

and sports in creating healthy lifestyles for all children 

and youth; 

(3) encourages school districts to implement local 

wellness policies, as described in section 204 of the Child 

Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (42 

U.S.C. 1751 note), that include ambitious goals for 

physical education, physical activity, and other activities 

addressing the childhood obesity epidemic and promoting 

child wellness; and 

(4) encourages schools to offer physical education 

classes to students and to work with community partners 

to provide opportunities and safe spaces for physical activities before and after school and during the summer 

months for all children and youth. 

Attest: 

Clerk.