Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Physical Activity among High School Students
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Why Is This Important?
Physical activity can help reduce overweight/obesity and the risk of several chronic diseases including asthma and diabetes. Research has shown that physical activity also increases life expectancy.
Definition
The percentage of public high school students who participated in physical activities that increased their heart rate and made them breathe hard some of the time for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on five or more of the past seven days.
Data Source
New Jersey Student Health Survey, Office of Student Support Services, Division of Student Services and Career Readiness, New Jersey Department of Education(http://www.nj.gov/education/students/yrbs/)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | The number of public high school students who exercised or participated in physical activity that increased their heart rate and made them breathe hard some of the time for a total of at least 60 minutes per day on five or more of the 7 days before the survey. |
| Denominator: | The total number high school students surveyed |
How Are We Doing?
Physical activity is declining among high school students of all races/ethnicities except Hispanics. Healthy New Jersey 2020 targets were not met by any group.
How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
The proportion of New Jersey high school students who are physically active is consistently about the same as for the nation as a whole.
Available Services
[https://nj.gov/health/nutrition/services-support/]
More Resources
CDC Healthy Schools: [https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/index.htm Physical Education and Physical Activity] NJDOH Office of Nutrition and Fitness: [http://www.state.nj.us/health/nutrition/]