Promoting physical activity for youth

The challenge for helping others enjoy a healthy and active life is to move the focus of instruction from physical fitness toward physical activity. Participation in regular physical activity offers a number of benefits including reduction of the risk of premature mortality. coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and colon cancer. The physical fitness of American children has not declined over the years even though teachers and parents often believe it to be true. A significant amount of fitness test performance is explained by heredity. Both the response to training and genetic limitations are limiting factors outside the control of individuals. Not all people can reach a high fitness level, but all can be physically active. The Children's Lifetime Physical Activity Model (C-LPAM) offers guidance in how to prescribe activity for youth. Guidelines suggest youngsters should receive at least 60 minutes or more of physical activity on a daily basis.