s.
In this particular study, 3234 people were assigned to two different programs; one with a placebo, and one ‘lifestyle-modification’ program, where subjects were required to maintain the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week.
After an average follow-up period of 2.8 years, there were 58 percent fewer people with diabetes in the lifestyle-modification program than in the placebo group.
These results are echoed by a joint position statement from The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association, who recommend that persons with type 2 diabetes should undertake at least 150 min/week of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise.
However, while 150 minutes is the recommended guideline for elementary schools, the minimum amount of recommended weekly exercise increases to 225 minutes for middle and high schools.
You can find out more about the guidelines specific to your area of teaching or study by choosing from the links below:
As part of an initiative by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), the Let’s Move in School project was launched. The goal of this project is to assist schools in meeting the recommended guidelines mentioned above, through the creation of physical activity programs that run before, during, and after school.
This is also in support of the Let’s Move! campaign, created by Michelle Obama, with the aim of solving childhood obesity within a generation.
6 Useful PE resources:
- 1. SHAPE America
Based in Reston, VA – a 40 minute drive from Washington, DC – SHAPE America describes itself as “the largest organization of professionals involved in school-based health, physical education and physical activity, who are dedicated to teaching and promoting active, healthy lifestyles.”
SHAPE is also an excellent resource in its own right for finding out more about the Physical Education guidelines, with a number of guidance documents available. These cover everything from the instructional framework for fitness education, to work samples for teachers.
Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE)
- 2. The Let’s Move! Program
Created with the ambition to solve childhood obesity within a generation, the Let’s Move Program is an initiative designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle during a child’s earliest years.
But as well as focussing on the importance of keeping physically active, this also means ensuring that the children have access to healthy and affordable food, both at home and at school. Details on how these goals can be achieved are outlined in the Childhood Obesity Task Force Report.
- 3. Physical Activity Guidelines
A set of guidelines for Americans, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is designed as a guide to some of the best practices for teaching the importance of health and nutrition to Americans aged 6 years and older.
The Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) include recommendations for levels of physical activity at all age levels, and also includes detailed information on safety considerations and injury prevention.
Similar to many of the studies and reports we’ve already mentioned, the PAG also concludes that most health benefits occur with a least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical exercise each week. There’s also a similar resource for nutrition, entitled ‘Dietary Guidelines for Americans‘, which is aimed at helping Americans over the age of 2 years old to focus on maintaining a healthy diet.
- 4. President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
Comprised of chefs, physicians, fitness professionals, and educators appointed by the President, the President’s Council is designed to encourage all Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and good nutrition.
Originally named the President’s Council on Youth Fitness, which was founded in 1956, the Council also includes a Science Board. Made up of scholars who have made significant contributions to the field of health and nutrition, the Board was formed in 2003 to ensure that all the advice available through the President’s Council