The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) released figures collected by the Physical Activity Council showing that in 2015, 34.9 million American children (ages 6-17) were classified as ‘not active to healthy standards,’ meaning they were physically active less than three days a week in any activity.
The SFIA called attention to the epidemic of inactivity, showing the numbers are getting even worse. According to the association, 5.4 million of 6-12 year olds and 4.1 million of 13-17 year olds are totally physically inactive.
“The roots of this national trend of physical inactivity are a lack of P.E. in schools,” said SFIA Association President/CEO Tom Cove. “As schools dropped physical education starting over a decade ago, this seeded the ‘Inactivity Pandemic.’ Making matters worse, families are now facing increased costs for youth sports participation. Americans need help to reduce activity expenses which is why SFIA and PHIT America are leading the effort to pass the PHIT Act.”
According to a new study published by Pediatrics, children are only getting an average of 23 minutes of physical activity a day while in school.
“Think about it. Two out of every three children in America are not ‘active to healthy standards’ today and it is getting worse every year. The young consumers are the heart and soul of the sports and fitness industry. This issue of physical inactivity is also the ‘time bomb’ for the healthcare crisis as these children are much more prone to disease,” said Jim Baugh, Founder, PHIT America. “The average budget for a school today for P.E is $764 per year. And, for an elementary school, it is only $460 per school. Even recess has been reduced or cut in many schools. This is a crime.”
As a result, the SFIA and PHIT America have refocused energy on rebuilding physical education programs in U.S. schools and passing the PHIT Act.
“We know the key to increasing the number of children who are active is to restore P.E. in schools. This is why the SFIA is promoting support of PHIT America and the GO! Grants program,” added Cove. “Along with reducing the cost of sports and fitness to families, we have to go to the main place where ‘activity is born’ -- in school gyms and in P.E. programs.”
