Competitive youth sports in society: what President Obama needs to know to get - and keep - kids moving

Abstract

In February 2010, President Obama created the Child Obesity Task Force to address the problem that nearly one in three children in the United States are overweight or obese. In May, the Task Force released its action plan, the goal of which is to return to the obesity rate of just 5% by 2030, the level it was until the 1970s. These recommendations are helpful but incomplete. To help get kids off the couch, President Obama and other leaders need to understand and confront today's culture of organized youth sports, which often dominates the facilities and play resources available to children and teens.