eLetters to:

ELECTRONIC ARTICLE: Penny Gordon-Larsen, Robert G. McMurray, and Barry M. Popkin Determinants of Adolescent Physical Activity and Inactivity Patterns Pediatrics 2000; 105: e83 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

eLetters: Submit a response to this article

eLetters published:

Toward Increasing School PE

Helaine G Levine   (5 July 2000)

none

Tamara Brown   (14 March 2001)

Toward Increasing School PE 5 July 2000
Helaine G Levine, Pediatrician Send letter to journal: Re: Toward Increasing School PE HelaineLevineMD{at}aol.com Helaine G Levine	Helaine G Levine MD 14 Constitution Court East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816 July 2, 2000 Jerold F. Lucey MD, Editor Pediatrics Editorial Office Fletcher Allen Health Care Burlington, Vermont 05401 To the Editor: I applaud the publication of the work of Gordon-Larsen et al (Determinants of Adolescent Physical Activity and Inactivity Patterns) in the June 2000 issue. The "results indicate that PE classes may represent the only opportunity for many adolescents to engage in weekly physical activity and give powerful evidence supporting the importance of increasing opportunities for physical activity and the impact of PE programs and community recreation programs on physical activity of US adolescents." All branches of medicine concur that a more active lifestyle is necessary to promote general health and well being and prevent cardiovascular disease. The Academy of Pediatrics May 2000 policy statement reaffirmed its support for increased physical activity in schools. The authors also state that "PE and community recreation programs should receive attention on the national level." All of this is good intention which must be followed by action.This is a significant issue for which the individual pediatrician can easily show support. Senator Ted Stevens introduced the Physical Education for Progress Act (S.1159) to the US Senate in May 1999. The “PEP” legislation authorizes $400 million over a five-year period for grants for local physical education programs. The grants can be used to provide physical education equipment and support to students, enhance physical education curricula, and train and educate physical education teachers. Unfortunately, there has been little momentum generated, perhaps, because of the overshadowing of such worthy yet controversial issues of gun control, insurance reform, etc. The AAP endorses this legislation. Each individual member is called upon to urge his/her US Senator to become a co sponsor of this legislation. Further information is available on the web, including an opportunity to e-mail individual Senators, at www.aahperd.org/naspe/whatsnew-pep.html or www.weneedpe.com Thank you, Helaine G. Levine MD FAAP HelaineLevineMD@aol.com
none 14 March 2001
Tamara Brown, mom none Send letter to journal: Re: none mamabrown2{at}hotmail.com Tamara Brown	To Whom It May Concern, I have no idea what a P3R is. I simply wanted to send a letter to the editor. I heard a blurb on the news last year about this article. It was, of course, over simplified. The findings were distilled to: children who take PE are more likely to be active and less likely to be overweight. I suggest that overweight, inactive (bashful or just plain clumsy) children are less likely to take PE. It is an exercise in humiliation (pun intended). This is not to dismiss the findings. I have no doubt PE has some positive effect. That effect might be larger if we sought to create classes that showed our children their own possibilities. Since this is in the hands of public education, I won't hold my breath. I have been considering a family membership at the Y. This article helped me decide to do just that. Sincerely, Tamara Brown