In the News Research indicates that sports participation and
active commuting to school would significantly decrease obesity
prevalence in adolescents. As reported in the July 2012 issue of
Pediatrics, we surveyed 1718 high school students and asked them
about their team sports participation, active commuting to
school, recreational physical activity, height, weight, diet
quality, and other individual characteristics. We found 4 key
points: - Adolescents playing on 2 sports teams were 22% less
likely to be overweight/obese and 39% less likely to be obese
compared with adolescents not playing on any sports teams. - The
prevalence of overweight/obesity and obesity would decrease by
11% and 26%, respectively, if all adolescents played on 2 sports
teams per year. - Adolescents who walked/biked to school at
least 4 days per week were 33% less likely to be obese compared
with those who never walked/biked to school. - The prevalence of
obesity would decrease by 22% if all adolescents walked/biked to
school at least