12 Jun Results From the 2024 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

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Physical activity plays a vital role in the healthy development of children and youth, yet national surveillance data continue to show that many young people in the United States are not getting enough movement. A new paper by Carlson et al. published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health presents findings of the 2024 US Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, offering a comprehensive snapshot of physical activity levels and the environments that support active living across the country.

What the study examined

Led by members of the US Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Report Card team, the study evaluated 12 indicators related to physical activity among children and youth. Using the best available national data, a committee of experts assigned letter grades based on benchmarks established by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance. The team also examined differences across racial/ethnic groups and children with disabilities, as well as trends over time since the first US Report Card was released in 2014.

What they found

Sufficient data were available to grade 8 of the 12 indicators, with grades ranging from B—to D—.

Key findings included:

  • Overall Physical Activity received a grade of D—, indicating that only a small proportion of US children and youth are meeting recommended physical activity guidelines.
  • Racial and ethnic disparities were observed across several indicators, including Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport, Sedentary Behavior, Sleep, and Community and Environment.
  • Overall Physical Activity participation and Active Transportation showed modest declines over the past decade.
  • Larger declines were observed for Organized Sport participation and Sedentary Behavior indicators, suggesting notable shifts in how children and youth spend their time.

Why this matters

The findings highlight ongoing opportunities to improve physical activity levels and supports among US children and youth. They also draw attention to disparities across population groups and changes in key indicators over time.

Future perspectives

As noted by authors, the 2024 US Report Card can serve as a valuable tool for informing research and practice at both local and national levels, helping guide efforts to support physical activity among children and youth.

Reference 

Carlson JA, Moon M, Steel C, Bai Y, Dodson EA, Dooley EE, Forseth B, Fox AT, Greenberg JD, Grimes A, Hasson RE, Hibbing PR, Jiang Q, Pate RR, Serrano NH, Spring KE, Stanish HI, Webber-Ritchley KJ, Staiano AE. Results from the 2024 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2025;23(3):293-300. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2024-0872