Physical education's role in public health Steps forward and backward over 20 years and HOPE for the future

• Published in: Research quarterly for exercise and sport Vol. 83; no. 2; pp. 125 - 135
• Main Authors: Sallis, James F, McKenzie, Thomas L, Beets, Michael W, Beighle, Aaron, Erwin, Heather, Lee, Sarah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.2012; American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Adipositas; Aufgabe; Bewegungsaktivität; Bildung; Bildungspolitik; childhood obesity; Children & youth; Curriculum; Educational Quality; Entwicklung; Evaluation; Evidence; Federal Government; Gesundheitserziehung; Gesundheitsförderung; Goal Orientation; Government Role; Health Behavior; Health Needs; Health Promotion; Humans; Lernziel; Obesity; Physical Activities; physical activity; Physical Activity Level; Physical Education; Physical Education and Training; Physical education teachers; Physical Fitness; policy; Program Effectiveness; Prävention; Public Health; Role of Education; Situationsanalyse; Sport; Sportpädagogik; Sportunterricht; Standardisierung; State Government; Teaching methods; United States; USA; Youth; United States
• ISSN: 0270-1367; 2168-3824
• DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2012.10599842

The 1991 paper, "Physical Education's Role in Public Health" described the importance of physical education in addressing public health problems. On its 20th anniversary, this article reviews accomplishments in improving the health impact of physical education and identifies areas lacking progress. Major accomplishments include development of evidence-based programs, documentation of health and academic benefits of physical education, and acceptance of physical education as a public health resource. Additional work is needed to evaluate the uptake of evidence-based programs, improve national surveillance of physical education quantity and quality, establish stronger policies supporting active physical education, and achieve wide acceptance of public health goals within the physical education field. These opportunities constitute an agenda for actualizing the promise of Health-Optimizing Physical Education before the next 20-year anniversary. Verf.-Referat.