The West Virginia Senate has passed legislation requiring physical activity for students.
Under the Move to Improve Act, elementary school students must participate in 30 minutes of physical education three days a week.
The bill requires middle-school students to attend at least one full period of physical education per day with 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity.
High school students would need one full course credit of physical education for graduation and would have the opportunity to enroll in an elective lifetime physical education course.
The bill aims to address the high health care costs of obesity-related illnesses. The bill notes that an economic study in West Virginia found the direct medical cost of obesity in 2009 was $8.9 million.
The bill has been sent to the House.