Minnesota, other states too lax about gym class

Minnesota and most other states are taking a lackluster approach to physical education in schools, according to a new report.

The study finds that only Oregon and the District of Columbia meet national guidelines from the American Heart Association and the Society of Health and Physical Educators for time spent in physical education at the elementary and middle school levels.

The report says most states require physical education at all school levels. But in many states, including Minnesota, there's no minimum amount of time students must spend being active.

Like most other states, Minnesota allows schools to withhold active time such as recess as punishment for misbehavior.

The American Heart Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Society of Health and Physical Educators collaborated on the study.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say about 17 percent of children ages 2 through 19 qualified as obese in 2012.