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Educating the Student Body
Sedentary lifestyle:
A way of living or lifestyle that requires min-
imal physical activity and that encourages 
inactivity through limited choices, disincen-
tives, and/or structural or financial barriers.
Sedentary physical activity: Physical activity with a rate of energy expen-
diture of 
≤
1.5 METs (up to 1.5 times the 
energy required for sitting at rest), such as 
sitting or reclining 
Strength:
The ability of the muscle to exert force.
Systems approach: 
A paradigm or perspective involving a focus 
on the whole picture and not just a single 
element, as well as awareness of the wider 
context, an appreciation for interactions 
among different components, and transdis-
ciplinary thinking. 
Systems thinking: 
An iterative learning process in which an 
individual takes a broad, holistic, long-term 
perspective on the world and examines 
the linkages and interactions among its 
elements. 
Vigorous-intensity
Physical exertion that leads to sweating and
physical activity:
heavy breathing, such as running, basket-
ball, soccer, and swimming; usually done 
at or above an intensity of 6.0 times resting 
metabolic rate.
VO
2
:
The amount of oxygen consumed per min-
ute by an individual while performing an 
activity.
VO
2
max:
The maximal capacity for oxygen consump-
tion by the body during maximal exertion.
Well-being:
A view of health that takes into account an 
individual’s physical, social, and emotional 
health.

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Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
Appendix A
 
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Working memory:
The ability to mentally represent informa-
tion, manipulate stored information, and 
act on it; moving information from short- to 
long-term memory.
Youth:
Often used to describe adolescents or teens 
ages 12-19 years. In this report, the term 
“youth” is often used to refer to all school-
aged children and adolescents.
Youth development:
The process through which adolescents 
acquire the cognitive, social, and emotional 
skills and abilities required to navigate life.

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Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School

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Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
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