ABSTRACT
The physical health and well-being of children in the United States today is a leading national public health concern. Trends indicate that children are leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles and an alarming rise in childhood obesity is evident. National efforts are underway to define, measure, and promote the physical well-being of the nation’s children. The purpose of this paper is to identify the core components of physical activity and well-being in children and outline the supporting literature, to describe the effects of physical activity in children across the life span, and to identify biological, psychological, social, and environmental determinants of physical activity and well-being.
