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(Reuters Health) - - Negative childhood experiences in physical education (PE) classes may have long-term effects on adult physical activity, a large study suggests. Researchers conducted an online survey of more than 1,000 adults, ages 18 to 45, across 46 states about their best and worst memories of their PE experiences, as well as their attitude about physical activity now. The 392 male and 636 female respondents were recruited by an internet service for monetary compensation

David Lopez, 44, weighs over 400 pounds, has diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and has trouble walking or standing for prolonged periods of time, but Lopez started attending Wayne State University with the hefty goal of being a high school gym teacher. When Lopez got his doctor to sign a medical waiver for him during the student-teaching requirement of the program, he demanded that the university let him conduct his student teaching virtually. Wayne State University refused

MADISON, WI (AP) -- A high school principal admitted erring in letting a Marine Corps recruiter conduct a physical education class, but some parents said they remain concerned about the move they called a backdoor effort to recruit students. School officials shouldn't have let the recruiter and other corps members conduct the classes, which one student said featured an obstacle course and members "screaming" at students "totally Marine-style," said principal Alan Harris of Madison's East High School. "We made an error. We're going to act to ensure that it doesn't happen again," Harris said, who said "a handful of parents"...

McDonald's backs phys ed program in US schools Tue Sep 13, 3:25 PM ET LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp. on Monday said it is sponsoring a physical education program that will appear in one-third of U.S. public elementary schools, the chain's latest move to combat critics who blame its burgers and fries for expanding kids' waistlines. "McDonald's Passport to Play" will launch in 31,000 schools this fall, reaching an expected 7 million children in grades three through five, the company said. The move is part of McDonald's so-called "Balanced Lifestyles" initiative, an aggressive effort to promote physical activity and...

I recently read an article on the Fox News website about higher percentages of children being overweight and how this trend is evidence that our education system is failing our children in physical education. The article had the standard statistics about percentages of students who take phys. ed. and the standard stories about most classes being games where athletic kids dominate and non-athletic kids stand quietly and inactively to the side. I don't remember specific recommendations, but the implication was that we should demand that schools offer better physical education and demand that kids be required to take these classes....

Lisa Lewis, a health professor, heard her two sons talk about how bad their high school P.E. class was, so she went to see for herself. "It's been terrible," she said. The teacher was a basketball coach, and "that's basically all they did -- play basketball between 40 and 50 kids." Many students, especially those who weren't athletic, just stood on the sidelines of the disorganized game. Physical education experts say there's little accountability for P.E. teachers in most schools. They say the classes are often poorly run, and students don't spend much time in them anyway -- even as...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. The University Faculty Senate will discuss whether Penn State should continue to mandate the Health and Physical Activity (GHA) requirement at its meeting next Tuesday in Harrisburg. Currently, students must take three GHA credits to graduate. Dawn Blasko, Senate secretary, said this week's Senate report reviews the GHA requirement, benchmarking Penn State with other Big Ten and state universities. According to the report, studies show most other schools do not require students to take health and physical education courses. Blasko said the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Education, which formed the report,...