Notes on the Need for Health Related Fitness Education

The Need for Health-Related Fitness Education

  • The fundamental questions to address:
    • What is the purpose of physical education?
    • What are our overall objectives?
  • Answering these questions can provide a foundation for all subsequent actions.
  • The focus should be on what students and society need to stay healthy and fit for life.

Guidelines from the US Department of Health and Human Services (02/2018)

  • Preschool-aged children (3-5 years):
    • Should be active throughout the day.
    • At least three hours of active play required.
    • These guidelines are new because 3-5 year olds are becoming less active due to increased technology use.
    • Technology is "zombifying" kids, leading to decreased physical activity.
    • This is detrimental to their development.
  • Youth (6-17 years):
    • Sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily.
    • Heart rate should be above 70% of max heart rate for heart health benefits.
    • Muscle and bone strengthening activities at least three days a week.
      • Compressive forces (running, lifting, jumping) increase peak bone mass density.
      • Important for preventing osteoporosis and bone diseases later in life, especially for females due to hormonal changes.
      • Muscle strengthening is essential for functional movement.
  • Adults:
    • 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic activity.
    • Two days of muscle strengthening activity.
    • Enhances heart health by increasing heart size and strength, and increasing stroke volume.
    • Functional strength is needed due to sedentary lifestyles.
  • Older Adults:
    • Same aerobic and physical activity recommendations as adults.
    • Balance training is crucial (single leg/arm movements, balance beam activities).
    • Helps maintain sensory and motor neuron function, preventing muscle loss.
    • Plyometric training (quick, explosive movements) is important for recruiting fast-twitch muscle fibers.
    • Relative intensity should be considered based on fitness level and age.
    • Chronic conditions should be taken into account when programming activities.
  • Bouts of Physical Activity:
    • Any amount of physical activity is beneficial, even just a few minutes.
    • Aim to reduce sedentary behavior.

The Significance of Physical Education

  • Physical education should equip individuals with tools for lifelong fitness.
  • Similar to how reading and math skills are taught for lifelong application, physical education should provide tools applicable throughout life.
  • Physical activity improves cognition and academics.
  • Administrators may undervalue physical education if classes are not effectively promoting well-being and fitness.
  • If physical educators do their job well, physical education could be on the the same level as teaching reading because it impacts everyone regardless of their occupation.
  • Benefits: bone health, fitness, heart health.

Heart Health Elaboration

  • Healthy resting heart rate: 60-90 beats per minute (90 is slightly high).
  • Lowering resting heart rate by 10 bpm can result in 14,440 fewer heartbeats per day, and over 5 million fewer per year.
    • 1440 minutes/day×10 beats/minute=14400 beats/day1440 \text{ minutes/day} \times 10 \text{ beats/minute} = 14400 \text{ beats/day}
    • 14400 beats/day×365 days/year=5256000 beats/year14400 \text{ beats/day} \times 365 \text{ days/year} = 5256000 \text{ beats/year}
  • Reducing resting heart rate from 90 to 60 bpm results in approximately 45,000 fewer heartbeats per day.

Further Reasons for Physical Activity (Youth)

  • Reduced depression and anxiety.
  • Improved sleep.
  • Increased energy.
  • Addiction control: Balances hormones and neurotransmitters which could help prevent the forming of additions by creating neural pathways in the brain.
  • Improved body image.
  • Mental fortitude and confidence: Physical challenges develop grit and resilience.

Physical Activity Benefits (Adults)

  • Reduced risk: Multiple cancers.
  • Reduces risk for: Dementia, all-cause mortality, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and depression.
  • Improved bone health, physical function, and quality of life.
  • Helps maintain a healthy weight.
  • Manages various health conditions: osteoarthritis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease.

Exercise and Physical Activity Concerns

  • Only about 25% of adults and children (6-17) meet physical activity guidelines.
  • 25-40% of adults participate in no moderate to vigorous physical activity.
  • Males are twice as likely as females to meet physical activity guidelines.
  • This is a concern because: Females may need physical activity just as much as males because mental health, clinical depression, and suicide ideation is higher for females.
  • Important to consider gender differences in interests and motivations when designing physical education curricula.
  • Example: Males often enjoy competition more than females so implementing team sports might not appeal to everyone.

Impact of Technology

  • Around 02/2012, there was a significant increase in teens who rarely exercise, which correlates with increased social media use and smartphone adoption.
  • Smartphones began gaining popularity around 02/2007.
  • By 02/2013, approximately 50% of the population had smartphones.
  • Currently, about 95% of adults and 75-90% of teens have smartphones.

Obesity Trends

  • Adults: Obesity rates have increased from 15% to 41.9% (over two out of five adults are obese).
  • Adolescents: Rates have risen from 5% to 22% (almost a quarter of adolescents are obese).
  • Children (6-11): Rates have increased from 6.5% to 20% (one out of five are obese).
  • Children (2-5): Over 10% are obese.
  • Type 2 diabetes, once primarily seen in older adults, is now occurring in elementary-aged children.
  • Almost 75% of adults in the US are overweight or obese.
  • Over 15 million children and adolescents are obese.
  • Body Mass Index, which is used to classify obesity, it doesn't factor in muscle. So since the vast majority of the population doesn't have muscle because they are not active, the BMI data is fairly accurate.
  • By 02/2019, 35 states had obesity rates of 30% or higher.

Economic and Emotional Costs

  • The prescription drug industry was a $320 billion industry in 02/2015.
  • The cost of treating obesity was $173 billion in 02/2019.
  • Childhood obesity cost was $14 billion in 02/2019.
  • Obese individuals incur medical costs six times higher than non-obese individuals.
  • There is a growing relationship between physical inactivity and mental health conditions.
  • The average high school student has the same level of anxiety as a psychiatric patient in the 1950s.
  • 44% of teens experience persistent sadness and hopelessness (compared to 26% in 02/2009).
  • 20% have had at least one major depressive episode.
  • Roughly 20% have seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9% have made an attempt.

Adherence to Physical Activity

  • Physical activity patterns and fitness levels during adolescence are directly related to physical activity habits and fitness during adulthood.
  • Learning lifetime activities (resistance training, aerobic exercise) during adolescence has a greater transfer into adulthood compared to sports and games.
  • In 02/2019, 56% of youth participated in organized sports, meaning 44% did not.
  • Active adults predominantly participate in individual fitness activities (walking, weight training, cardio, running, swimming).
  • Most physical education focuses on sports, which does not equip students with tools for lifelong fitness.
  • Walking, weight lifting, and cardio equipment are the top activities for active individuals (15 and older).

Overcoming the Challenges

  • Youth need to be equipped with the tools to stay active and fit in the future.
    • Functional motor competency.
    • Health-related fitness knowledge.
    • Enhancement of mental fortitude and fitness.
    • Appreciation and enjoyment of physical activity, exercise, and health.
  • Setting a goal for 30% of students to adopt behavioral change and commit to lifelong fitness can significantly impact society.

Developmental Programming Model

  • Dr. Molina conceptualized it in 1991, it is a framework for youth to develop
  • Youth: Develop functional motor skill competency.
  • Teens: Apply health-related fitness behaviors.
  • Functional motor skill competency is crucial for developing neuromuscular control and sustainable movement.
  • Skills include: squatting, hip hinging, overhead pressing, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, throwing, catching, striking.
  • Elementary school should focus on making kids great movers, not necessarily great sports players.
  • Health-related fitness behaviors involve personal health improvement and creating health-enhancing fitness plans and habits.

Tools Adolescents Need

  • Functional movement patterns (squats, hip hinges, overhead presses).
  • Wealth of experience with different forms of exercise (high intensity training, circuit training, cardiovascular training, resistance training).
  • Knowledge of fitness program capabilities, time management, and goal setting.
  • Appreciation for the importance of fitness, health, and wellness.
  • If these four levels can be reached, it is game-changing.

Concluding Thought

  • "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, feed him for a lifetime."
  • The main takeaway is that educators should teach knowledge and skills related to these topics so that the children can benefit from these skills for the rest of their lives.
  • Physical education should provide knowledge, not just physical activity.