Health and Fitness Requirements for High School Graduation in NYC.

Every high school student is required to earn four credits in fitness (gym), and one credit in health. 

State Standards for Health and FItness

Standard 1: Personal Health and Fitness
Students will have the necessary knowledge and skills to establish and maintain physical fitness,
participate in physical activity, and maintain personal health.
Standard 2: A Safe and Healthy Environment.
Students will acquire the knowledge and ability necessary to create and maintain a safe and healthy
environment.
Standard 3: Resource Management.
Students will understand and be able to manage their personal and community resources.

New Physical Activity Guidelines (October 2008)

CDC scientists from the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) and the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) were key partners in development of the Guidelines.

The Guidelines' chapter on children and adolescents, available at http://www.health.gov/PAguidelines/guidelines/chapter3.aspx, reflect the most up-to-date research about youth physical activity and its associated health benefits. Specific recommendations are as follows:

Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity daily.

1. Aerobic: Most of the 60 or more minutes a day should be either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity and should include vigorous-intensity physical activity at least 3 days a week.
2. Muscle-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.
3. Bone-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include bone-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.

It is important to encourage young people to participate in physical activities that are appropriate for their age, that are enjoyable, and that offer variety.

Examples of activities youth can do to meet these requirements are included in the Guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.health.gov/PAguidelines. Additional CDC resources on youth physical activity are available at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity and http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone.