Facts & Figures

Kids need exercise. Sadly, the latest statistics prove they’re not getting it. In fact, childhood obesity rates have nearly doubled in the past twenty years. The Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, through the Safe Routes to School Academy, is working to reverse these trends:

• Only 25 percent of Americans get the Surgeon General’s recommended 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days.
• Less than 15 percent of students between the ages of 5 and 15 walk to or from school – compared to 48 percent of children walking or cycling to school in 1969.
• Of those children living within a mile of their school, only 25 percent walk regularly.

Along with all the health benefits of regular activity, children who walk or bike to school demonstrate:

• Better concentration
• Enhanced memory
• Improved learning and creativity
• Boosted mood for up to two hours after being physically active
• Higher test scores
• Less disruptive behavior

Physical activity of any kind is great for kids, but walking or biking to school is a wonderful opportunity for parents and kids to spend quality time together and promote a healthier lifestyle for the whole family.