State Policy Opportunities for Reducing Sedentary Behavior

Restrict Screen Time​

Action steps to restrict screen time in the state include:

Provide funding for additional after school programs.
After school programs can provide children alternatives to television, video games, or computer time. By providing school districts and communities additional funding, states can ensure that students have access to quality after school programs that provide opportunity for physical activity.

Recommended by:

• AAP Policy: Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity Through Increased Physical Activity
• Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Action Strategies Toolkit - A Guide for Local And State Leaders to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity Executive Summary

For more information: United States Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration of Families and Children - After School Resources

Pediatricians are reminded that all state advocacy efforts should be coordinated with state AAP chapters. To connect with your state AAP chapter, please visit: http://www.aap.org/member/chapters/chaplist.cfm

Support regulations of screen time in licensed child care facilities.
As part of state licensing requirements, states can limit the amount of television, video games, and computer activities that children are exposed to in licensed child care settings.

Recommended by:

• AAP Policy: Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
• Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
• National Governor's Association (NGA): Successful State Strategies to Prevent Childhood Obesity

For more information: AAP Healthy Child Care America

Pediatricians are reminded that all state advocacy efforts should be coordinated with state AAP chapters. To connect with your state AAP chapter, please visit: http://www.aap​.org/member/chapters/chaplist.cfm