Vigorous Exercise

Indicator Definition
For national data, children (ages 6 – 17 years) who participate in at least 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity (i.e., physical activity that made them sweat and breathe hard for at least 20 minutes) at least four days per week. For Colorado-specific data, children (1-14 years) who reported seven or more hours of playing sports or doing some other physical activity such as dancing, roller-skating or bicycling.

Children who participated in vigorous physical activity in Colorado4

Children who participated in vigorous physical activity by income in Colorado5

Indicator Significance
As the number of children who are overweight increases, so does the number of children who have low levels of physical activity. Inactive children are more likely to become inactive adults. A lack of physical exercise results in an increased risk for overweight, obesity and chronic disease. Participating in frequent vigorous physical activity is a protective factor for children that results in psychological and social well-being and reduces the risk of premature death as adults.¹

Colorado Specifics 
Colorado’s children rank 37 out of 50 states for reported vigorous physical activity. Reported physical activity levels  changed little between 2005 and 2007, and there do not appear to be large differences in physical activity levels between income groups.

Promising Initiatives
In Colorado
Stapleton has been transformed from Denver’s former airport into a model community for healthy living, with an urban design plan that encourages children and adults to engage in regular physical activity. Adopting programs such as the Passport to Healthy Living and the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, Stapleton designers have teamed up with the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center to provide programs that educate residents on how to maintain more healthy and active lifestyles. The Transport Management Association works with the Stapleton community to provide alternatives to car transportation through a shuttle service and improved bicycle paths throughout the community. Bike, Walk, Roll promotes non-car trips to school where children are treated to breakfast and given further information about safety while riding a bicycle.²

Elsewhere
The Harvest Foundation has made a three-year, $1.56-million grant to support Virginia’s National Complete Streets Coalition. It is the largest investment of such kind given in the country. The streets in Martinsville and Henry counties will be re-designed to promote walking and biking in attractive and engaging ways. A local coalition is working to revitalize entire communities and therefore to improve economic development. The University of North Carolina and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be evaluating the initiative.³

Children who participated in vigorous physical activity⁶

Text

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Healthy Youth.”
   
2. Stapleton Foundation.
   
3. The Harvest Foundation. “Harvest to Fund Initiative, Quality of Life Targeted”; June 29, 2007.
   

Charts

4. Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Child Health Survey, 2005-2007.
   
5. Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Child Health Survey, 2007.
   
6. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Children’s Health, 2003.