Two national health objectives for 2010 are to: 1) increase the proportion of adolescents in daily school PE to at least 50% and 2) increase to >50% the proportion of adolescents who spend at least half of school PE class time being physically active. The source of data to track these objectives is Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) which provide cross-sectional data representative of students in grades 9 through 12 (public and private) nationwide. The behaviors chosen for this analysis were: enrollment in PE with class at least one day per week during the school year, attending daily PE class, and being physically active during PE class.

The percentage of students taking daily PE class dropped significantly from 1991 to 1995 and did not change from 1995 to 2003. The percentage of students exercising or playing sports for at least 20 minutes during PE class three to five days per week did not change significantly during 1991 to 2003.  In 2003,  55.7% of high school students were enrolled in PE, only 28% attended PE class daily, and only 39% were physically active during PE class. Females and upper grade students were consistently less likely to be enrolled in PE or physically active during PE class.

Effective and coordinated efforts involving schools, communities, and policy makers are needed to provide daily, activity-based PE. Schools and communities should ensure resources to deliver quality PE instruction, consistent with national standards, in safe and well-maintained facilities. Policies should require instruction to be provided by credentialed PE teachers with class size comparable with those in other subjects. Teachers should use methods that support being active most of the class time. Curricula should emphasize being physically active and help students develop attitudes, skills, and confidence to adopt and maintain physically active lifestyles.

(Lowry R, Brener N, Lee S, et al. MMWR 2004; 53(36):844-847)

Comment:  Not surprising but I had expected an upswing in the percentage of PE time spent in physical activity for all the “noise” about obesity in recent years. PE teachers are the most responsible for instructional plans that increase the percentage of time most students are in physical ‘motion’ during available class time.  --J.O.