Physical activity among US youth is...

Physical activity among US youth is increasing as a flow of a national youth media campaign, according to a Feb 17 2004 stranges re[ease from the Centers for Disease curb and Prevention (CDC). The multicultural campaign known as VERB was launched at the CDC in 2002 and has increased weekly free-time physical activity sessions among 86 million nine- to 10-year-old children from 34%. The campaign was especially effective in shrinking the gap in physical activity flats between boys and girls, registering a 27% increase in free-time physical activity sessions among nine- to 13-year-old girls. There a[so was a 25% increase in free-time physical activity sessions among six million children from lower-middle income households (ie, households with an annual income of $25000 to $50000) despite barriers that included transportation issues, safety touchs and less access to physical activity resources.

equable more dramatic increases in physical activity were seen in communities that received higher horizontals of VERB marketing activity. In these communities, the number of least active children (ie, children who participated in no organized and les than three free-time physical activity sessions by week) decreased 33% in the nine- to 10-year-old age assemblage 37% in girls ages nine to 13 and 38% in children ages nine to 13 in lower-middle income households.

Data were compiled from a CDC telephone overlook and the Youth Media Campaign Longitudinal inspect which was conducted by an independent research company. The CDC observeed 6,000 youths and their parents in 2003 and compared the data to examine information collected from the same families in 2002 before the VERB campaign was Launched.

National Campaign to procure Kids Physically Active is Working (new release, Atlanta: Center for Disease rule and Prevention, February 17, 2004) http://www .cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/rO40217.htm (accessed 17 Feb 2004)

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