The secret to a long life is to be physically active. Young adolescents in our schools benefit the most from physical activity because it positively affects their health, helps relieve stress, anxiety and improves their social assimilation. Physical education classes should be mandatory throughout a student's career to provide a healthier lifestyle. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Since 1996, childhood obesity has increased to such a dangerous level that it shows that more than 9 million children are now overweight. Children spend most of their time at school. Therefore, students must receive proper physical education lessons to help them have a healthier lifestyle and keep it as a lifelong hobby. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education has given states and the federal government a failing grade in physical education in the American school system. This means there is so much more that physical education lessons can do for American students if done correctly. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 1 in 3 children or adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. Having to carry extra weight as a child can pose a significant health risk throughout adulthood and childhood. “CDC officials cite research showing that most overweight children become obese adults” (Alison Kepner). Being overweight as a child leads to a life full of disease. Such health risks include high cholesterol, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood. With high cholesterol, you are likely to develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually the deposits grow, preventing blood from flowing through the arteries, causing a heart attack or stroke. Which both can be very dangerous and deadly. High blood pressure, also known as the silent killer, can also develop when you lack physical activity and are overweight. High blood pressure occurs when blood constantly pushes against blood vessels, causing heart disease and stroke. A person could have high blood pressure for years and not experience any symptoms. Additionally, people with high blood pressure can even die in their sleep if their blood pressure goes undetected. Sleep apnea causes breathing to stop during sleep. This poses a greater risk of sudden cardiac arrest. An estimated 12 million American adults suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, and many of them are undiagnosed (NHLBI). These are just some of the diseases that harm children who do not engage in physical activity while attending school. With moderate physical activity in schools, America can offer its students a better lifestyle and a healthier future. With physical education lessons, children can avoid growing up into a life full of heart disease. The idea of ​​physical education classes is to provide students with knowledge that can help them maintain a healthy lifestyle. For example, at Brandywine High, ninth graders spend class time playing traditional team sports. Additionally, students are also learning how fast their heart rate should be when performing vigorous and moderate exercise. This not only allows them to exercise their body, but also lets them know if they are doing it correctly. They learn new information that will definitely help them in the real world. By providing them with a physical education course, they will also.