CATCH covered environmental changes in schools related to food consumption, physical activity and smoking. For physical activity, a whole-school approach was used (see Chapter 1 for a discussion of this approach). Physical education teachers have been instructed to increase children`s participation and provide vigorous or moderate physical activity for at least 50% of class time. The CATCH program outside of physical education used social cognitive theory to attract students in grades 3 to 5 and focused on several health behaviours, including eating habits, physical activity, and smoking. CATCH also included family and family programs to complement school activities (Perry et al., 1990). A review by Salmon and colleagues (2007) found that school-based interventions that focus on activity breaks such as rest are the most effective way to increase physical activity in adolescents. Therefore, the demand and implementation of the daily break is one of the most promising measures to increase physical activity during the school day. The genus is in the genus “Fulkerson”. 1994. Food preferences, eating habits and physical activity in adolescents: correlates of eating disorder symptoms. Journal of Adolescent Health 15(4): 286-294. It is a widespread notion in society that to maintain the quality of education, schools should hire certified teachers to teach in the fields in which they are accredited.

Unfortunately, not all sports classes in the United States are taught by certified sports specialists. In fact, 68% of elementary schools allow teachers (generalists) to teach physical education (NASPE, 2012). Certification or certification of physical education teachers in middle and high schools is required in only 82% and 90% of states, respectively (NASPE, 2012). Only 37 states (72%) have a professional development and continuing education/credit requirement for physical education teachers to maintain or renew their certification, with a renewal period of 3-5 years (NASPE, 2012). Twenty-eight states (55%) allow temporary or emergency physical education certificates that are valid for 1-3 years (NASPE, 2012). The basic requirements for emergency certification include a bachelor`s degree in education or a field other than physical education. Only 31 states (60%) support physical education teachers who go through the National Council`s certification process, and only New York requires each school district to have a certified sports specialist to serve as an athletic coordinator (NASPE, 2012). Donnelly, J. E., J. L. Greene, C.

A. Gibson, B. K. Smith, R. A. Washburn, D. K. Sullivan, K. DuBose, M. S.

Mayo, K. H. Schmelzle, J. J. Ryan, D. J. Jacobsen, and S. L. Williams. 2009.

Physical Activity in the Curriculum (PAAC): A randomized controlled trial to promote physical activity and reduce overweight and obesity in elementary school children. Preventive Medicine 49(4):336-341. Only 6% (3) of states have a strict recreation law – one that requires 20 minutes of rest a day. Another 11% (5) of states have a weak law – one that suggests 20 minutes or requires fewer minutes of daily break than the nationally recommended 20 minutes (Slater et al., 2012). At the local level, national data show that many students do not attend schools that meet the recommendations for national holidays. As noted in Chapter 6, since the No Child Left Behind Act came into effect in 2001, nearly 40% of U.S. school districts have reduced or eliminated recess to free up time for core school subjects (Zygmunt-Fillwalk & Bilello, 2005; Centre for Public Education, 2008; McKenzie and Kahan, 2008; RWJF, 2010; Anderson et al., 2011; Basch, 2011). However, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires all school districts to develop local school health guidelines by the 2006-2007 school year. These guidelines should include “targets for nutrition education, physical activity and other school activities to promote pupil welfare in a manner deemed appropriate by the local education authority (Child Nutrition and WIC Reathorization Act of 2004, Public Law 108-265, Section 204)”.

The law defines specific aspects related to nutrition For many adolescents who have few opportunities to be active outside of the school day, high-quality physical education becomes the only option for physical activity.