Many U.S. children are overweight, partly because physical activity is not part of their daily lives. The first International Walk Our Children to School Day on October 4 seeks to help reverse this trend, and will highlight the benefits of children s walking and bicycling to school as a way to promote health and the benefits of making communities more pedestrian-friendly. David Satcher, Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary for Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, will help kick-off this year s event as he joins a group of children on October 4 th walking to the East Silver Spring Elementary, Silver Spring Maryland. Dr. Satcher will make brief remarks at the school and will be available for interviews. He noted that the number of overweight children has doubled in the past two decades, leading to a generation at risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other serious health problems.
Physical inactivity is a major factor.
Nearly half of all young people do not take part in regular, vigorous physical activity, and less than half of all high school students have regular physical education classes at school. The Walk Our Children to School Day hopes to help remedy this problem by promoting travel to and from school as a safe, active, and enjoyable part of children s lives. Last year s event drew more than 300,000 walkers children, parents, and community leaders from some 170 cities across the nation. This year marks the first International Walk to School Day, with events planned in Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Gibralter, and Cyprus. The guide focuses on a program oriented for children of all ages who live within walking distance of school, but can also be adapted for children who live farther away or do not have safe routes to school.