Educating the student body

An ad hoc committee of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) will review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment. The committee will also review influences of physical activity and physical education on the short- and long-term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. The committee will then, as appropriate, make recommendations regarding approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school. In carrying out its task, the committee will:

• Review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment.
• Review evidence on the relationship between physical activity, physical education, or physical fitness and physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development.
• Within a life-stage framework, consider the role of physical activity and physical education-related programs and policies offered in the school environment in contributing to short- and long-term health, health behaviors, and development (e.g., motor and cognitive development).
• Recommend, as appropriate, strategic programmatic, environmental, and policy approaches for providing, strengthening, and improving physical activity and physical education opportunities and programs in the school environment, including before, during, and after school.
• As evidence is reviewed, identify major gaps in knowledge and recommend key topic areas in need of research.

The committee formulated recommendations in six areas: taking a whole-of-school approach, considering physical activity in all school-related policy decisions, incorporating physical education as part of the core curriculum, monitoring physical education and opportunities for physical activity in schools, providing preservice training and professional development for physical education teachers, and ensuring equity in access to physical activity and physical education.