The president's council on physical fitness and sports.

Secretary of Health and Human Services T he year 1996 marked a breakthrough in our understanding of the benefits of physical activity and health for all Americans. With the publication of the first Surgeon General' s Report on Physical Activity and Health, we have clearly documented the fact that men and women of all ages can improve the quality of their lives through a lifelong practice of regular moderate physical activity. And the research indicates that physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve real health benefits. A regular, preferably daily routine of at least 30-45 minutes of brisk walking, bicycling, or even dancing will reduce the risks of developing coronary heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes. Moreover, regular physical activity can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety; help control weight; and help build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints. Childhood and adolescence are critical times to lay the foundation for lifelong physical activity, but, unfortunately, too many young people, especially girls, are not active enough. As children grow into adolescence, their participation in physical activity declines dramatically. As the Surgeon General' s report tells us, almost half our young people aged 12 to 21 are not vigorously active on a regular basis and 14 percent are completely inactive. And young females are twice as likely to be inactive as young males. These are dangerous trends, and we need to change them. Fortunately, this landmark report on Physical Activity & Sport in the Lives of Girls from the President' s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports tells us some of the steps we can take to enable girls to reach their full potential. It tells us that we need to provide more quality school-based physical education for girls. It tells us that we need to encourage girls to get involved in sport and physical activity at an early age. It tells us that we need to challenge stereotypes that impede girls' participation in sports. And it tells us that we have made progress in some areas. For example, the Title IX legislation enacted in 1972 has opened the doors for millions of girls to participate in school sports. Americans took enormous pride in the accomplishments of the 1996 Olympic gold medal female athletes in soccer, softball, swimming, track and field, gymnastics, basketball, and other sports. We need to build on that spirit and develop a national commitment to …