Report Shows Few California Students Are In Shape

SAN JOSE (KCBS) - Nearly 70 percent of California's 5th, 7th and 9th graders could not pass the state Physical Fitness Test in 2011.

Carrie Strong-Thompson with the California Dept. of Education said tests of aerobic ability, various kinds of strength, flexibility and body fat composition were designed to show health risks later in life.

"When we see that only about a third of the students are in the healthy fitness zone for all 6 components, it's a concern," she said.

KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:

Just 31 percent of the 1.3 million students who took the test got scores indicating they were physically fit.

The test revealed striking demographic disparities in Santa Clara County.

While 32 percent of Asian Americans and 30 percent of Caucasians passed, blacks and Hispanics fell significantly below the state average.

Only 22 percent of African Americans and 15 percent of Hispanic 5th graders had a passing score.

The disappointing results suggest many California children are likely to be obese, and suffer from heart disease and other conditions preventable through lifestyle choices, Strong-Thompson said.

"We want our kids to be healthy. We want them to become healthy adults."

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