Association between state physical education (PE) requirements and PE participation, physical activity, and body mass index change

Daniel R Taber,Jamie F Chriqui,Frank M Perna,Lisa M Powell,Sandy J Slater,Frank J Chaloupka

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.08.018

Daniel R Taber, Jamie F Chriqui + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.08.018

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine if state physical education (PE) laws are associated with student physical education attendance and physical activity (PA), and whether physical education and competitive food laws, in conjunction, are associated with lower BMI change. MethodState laws regarding physical education time requirements and competitive foods in 2003 and 2006 were classified as strong, weak, or none, based on codified law ratings obtained from the Classification of Laws Associated with School Students. Laws were linked to student data on PE attendance and physical activity (8th grade, Spring 2007) and BMI change (5th–8th grade, 2004–2007), obtained from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (n=5510 students in 40 states). ResultsGirls reported 0.31 more days of activity (95% CI: 0.02, 0.61) and were more likely to attend physical education ≥3days/week (74.1% versus 52.1%, difference=22.0, 95% CI: 2.1, 42.0) if they resided in states with strong physical education laws compared to no physical education laws. Weak physical education laws had modest associations with PE and activity, and there was no evidence that weak laws reduce BMI gain regardless of competitive food laws. ConclusionStrong physical education laws with specific time requirements may increase physical education attendance and activity in girls. There is insufficient evidence that physical education laws reduce student weight gain.

Highlights

Childhood obesity is regarded as one of the primary public health concerns in the United States (U.S.) (Institute of Medicine, 2005) and is projected to become a greater burden over time (Bibbins-Domingo et al, 2007; Olshansky et al, 2005; Wang et al, 2011; World Health Organization, 2000)
For the purpose of this study, analyses of physical education (PE) attendance and physical activity (PA) utilized data collected in Round 7 (8th grade, Spring 2007), when these measures were obtained from students. (PE attendance and PA were collected from teachers and parents, respectively, in 5th grade and are incomparable to 8th grade data.) Analyses of BMI change utilized data from Round 6 (5th grade, Spring 2004) and Round 7
Adjusted analyses indicated that girls, in particular, were more likely to report regular PE attendance if they resided in states with strong PE laws (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Childhood obesity is regarded as one of the primary public health concerns in the United States (U.S.) (Institute of Medicine, 2005) and is projected to become a greater burden over time (Bibbins-Domingo et al, 2007; Olshansky et al, 2005; Wang et al, 2011; World Health Organization, 2000). One widely-promoted initiative is requiring children to participate in a minimum amount of physical education (PE) per week (Boehmer et al, 2007; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011; Eyler et al, 2010). It is recommended that schools provide 225 minutes of PE per week for middle and high school students (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011; National Association for Sport and Physical Education, 2004), but most schools fall short of these standards. Kim reported some evidence that school PE requirements were inversely associated with obesity in 2007 but not 2003 (Kim, 2012) As she noted, childhood obesity was a lower priority among policymakers in 2003, but starting in 2006-07, school districts that participated in federal school meal programs were required to implement a wellness policy to improve school nutrition and promote PA

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