NEW YORK — The list of the Best and Worst States for Fit Kids was released this month. Connecticut, New York and Vermont top the list with Alaska, Nebraska and Nevada filling up the bottom rungs of the in-shape children ladder.
After five months of studying mandated school fitness and nutrition policies, along with more than a dozen other factors relating to a healthy lifestyle, such as the availability of safe playgrounds, rates of participation in youth sports and the number of fast-food restaurants, Child magazine ranked states (see list below) from best to worst for fit children.
The magazine found that only one state required daily physical education classes for all students and only one in four specified a reasonable physical education class size. Only two-thirds of the schools teach elementary school students about nutrition.
For more information or to see where your state falls on the complete list go to: www.childmagazine.com.
41. Iowa
42. Wyoming
43. Idaho
44. Alabama
45. South Dakota
46. Kansas
47. Mississippi
48. Nevada
49. Nebraska
50. Alaska