AAHPERD Pledges Support for First Lady's Let's Move Initiative to Battle
Obesity
The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD),
whose 22,000 members are teaching America's children how to make healthy decisions
about eating and physical activity throughout their lives, pledges its support of First Lady
Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative. Since its founding in 1885, AAHPERD has worked
to establish healthy school environments that include high quality health and physical
education programs as an essential element for our children's physical, academic and
social success.
According to AAHPERD President Dana Brooks of West Virginia University, "AAHPERD
applauds the foresight of the First Lady in energizing the national fight against childhood
obesity. We, the leaders and members, will do everything in our power to support the
"Let's Move" initiative on behalf of healthy, active lifestyles for our nation's children and an
end to the obesity epidemic."
An alliance of five national and six district associations as well as a Research Consortium,
AAHPERD's organizational vision is to create a society in which all individuals enjoy an
optimal quality of life through appreciation of and participation in an active and creative,
health-promoting lifestyle. AAHPERD members include professionals working in
elementary and secondary schools, higher education, administration, research, youth
programming, dance, coaching, sport management, health education, public health,
fitness, choreography, therapeutic programs, community recreation services, and other
movement-related fields. Examples of specific federally-funded programmatic activities
implemented by Alliance associations include:
A 5-year cooperative agreement with the Division of Adolescent and School Health
(DASH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National
Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) to increase the quality and
quantity of youth physical activity opportunities. The multi-faceted project
contributes positively to the health, education, and well-being of youth by reaching
children, adolescents, family members, physical education coordinators and
teachers, community organizations, educational administrators and policy makers,
media, and the general public with cutting-edge information and resources about
healthy lifestyles.
The Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor
Play (HSBS), was created through a $12 million federal grant to NASPE and the
American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR) from the Office of
Head Start, Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of the center is
to increase physical activity, outdoor play and healthy eating among Head Start and
Early Head Start Center children, families and staff. HSBS has mobilized a cadre of
240 physical activity professionals nationwide from NASPE and AAPAR to provide
consultation to Head Start centers. Through the National Center, Head Start staff
learn how to incorporate more physical activity throughout the day. The
development of multi-layered support ensures that programmatic changes promoting healthy lifestyles can be sustained.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded AAPAR
$324,000 to develop and implement a bicycle safety program. Teachers and
recreation professionals will use this engaging curriculum to teach safe bicycling to
children in elementary school, middle school, high school, and recreation centers.
Riding a bike represents a milestone in a child's physical and psychological
development, and can lead to lifelong physical activity, a lifelong commitment to
physical fitness, and a lifelong interest in healthy, energy-efficient transportation.
This nationwide 3-year program will make a significant contribution to childhood
obesity prevention by steering children toward safe, fun, self-powered transportation
and recreation through bicycling.
The associations and research arm of AAHPERD also set national standards for physical,
health, and dance education; promote research-based best practices; demonstrate that
physical activity enhances academic achievement; and partner with many other health
and education-based organizations, including the American Heart Association for our
partnership of the Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart programs.
Contact:
Paula Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
703-476-3461
AAHPERD
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