from journal Pediatrics
Parents who send their children to dance classes for physical exercise should take note of a new study from the journal Pediatrics and the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. Researchers analyzed activity levels of girls from five to eighteen in various dance classes. On average only one-third of class time was spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The remainder was spent standing, listening or stretching. Researchers acknowledge not all dance types are equal. Hip-hop was tops in activity level, while flamenco was least active. Senior author James Sallis says being inactive most of the time during dance classes should be seen as a missed opportunity to gets kids healthier. He says there are important social, developmental and cultural benefits to dance, but it should be possible to increase physical activity.