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Sports Medicine
Published in: Sports Medicine 4/2008

01-04-2008 | Leading Article

Is there a Long-Term Health Legacy of Required Physical Education?

Authors: Dr François Trudeau, Roy J. Shephard

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 4/2008

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Abstract

This article documents current literature on the potential long-term effects of school physical education on various outcomes in adults. A first observation is the rarity of publications on this topic. Nevertheless, the available literature suggests that physical education should offer a variety of either lifelong physical activities or sports in order to reach children with differing interests. In some children, competitive sports may generate a lifelong interest in physical activity, but most children may be better socialized by lifelong physical activities. In order to expose children to such a wide choice of physical activities, more time should be allocated to physical education instruction. Substantial further research is needed to increase our understanding of the long-term impact of school physical education programmes.
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Metadata
Title
Is there a Long-Term Health Legacy of Required Physical Education?
Authors
Dr François Trudeau
Roy J. Shephard
Publication date
01-04-2008
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Sports Medicine / Issue 4/2008
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200838040-00001

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