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Few California teens get enough physical education

By Staff Writer

A recent study by the University of California, Los Angeles, shows that about 1.3 million teens in the state, or one-third of all youths who are enrolled in public schools, do not participate in their required physical education classes.

Currently, the state mandates that public middle and high schools must ensure that children get 400 minutes of physical education every 10 days. The study shows that more than 80 percent of teens fail to meet this requirement.

The study also indicates that teens' participation in physical education classes decrease as they get older. When they are 12 years old, 95 percent said they are active during these courses. By the time these youth reach age 17, only 23 percent said they participate.

This may be a serious problem, as about one-quarter of people living in California are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Parents who want to ensure that their children are living healthy lifestyles may want to consider enrolling them in therapeutic schools.  

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