Health Certificates for Children and Adolescents as a Requirement for Physical Activity in Argentina: Position Statement of the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría 2025

In light of the risk posed by sedentary lifestyles, the importance of school physical education as a health tool and the hierarchy of teachers and graduates who teach this subject is emphasized. The rights of children and adolescents to access health care, medical attention, recreation, and sports must be respected. A health certificate should be required as part of the annual documentation that students must submit, but this should not be a limitation to participate in physical education classes. Only children and adolescents who present a medical certificate indicating otherwise may be excluded from participation in these classes, either temporarily or permanently. Given the low incidence of serious events at these ages during physical exercise, the risk posed by a sedentary lifestyle is much greater.