191477 Inactivity and Obesity -a National Epidemic in Adults and Children (Organized Jointly by PHN & SHES)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 8:30 AM

Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH , Cooper Aerobics Center, Dallas, TX
Larry K. Olsen, DrPH, CHES , Consultant, Las Cruces, NM
David R. Paul, PhD , Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Rosemary Jaworski, FNP, MSN , School Nurse, Norton Elementary -San Diego Unified School District, San Diego, CA
     

Learning Objectives:
see session details.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Cooper has been working with legislature in passing bill 580 to put Fitnessgram into the schools. On July 1, 2008, the results of the largest study of the physical fitness of our American youth was reported. During the first six months of 2008, 2,596,565 Texas students, grades 3 through 12, were evaluated using the Fitnessgram® test. It measures percent body fat (or BMI), aerobic capacity, flexibility, and three tests of upper and lower body strength. The results were startling! Less than one-third of the 3rd grade boys and girls could pass all six of the age and sex-adjusted tests, and there was a steady decline until the 12th grade when less than 10% could pass all six of the tests. Correlation between the results of the Fitnessgram® test and variables, including academic grades, attendance rates, the incidence of obesity, use of the government-sponsored free lunch programs, and discipline issues, will be presented. Several other states have now accepted our challenge to use Fitnessgram® to test their students, grades 3 through 12. If the results are as poor as they are in Texas, hopefully this will awaken our nation to the critical issues we are now facing with the lack of fitness and the obesity problems we have with our children, and the need to address these issue immediately!
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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