Physical activity is undeniably good for everyone, it not only keeps you fit and healthy but, if started at a young age, can create good habits for life. Sometimes, however, people do not take care of their physical well-being, which leads to obesity and other eating disorders that can be harmful to health. Obesity is the condition of being severely overweight. It is currently considered a global health epidemic by the World Health Organization (2000) (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010). Physical activity is important for children in the middle childhood age group because in recent decades an impressive number of children have become overweight and teachers play a role in obesity prevention by becoming a positive role model, teaching children about physical activity and the importance of nutrition and understanding how children develop and what their developmental needs are during those stages (McDevitt & Ormrod). In middle childhood, approximately 40% of obese 7-year-olds remain obese as adults, according to Epstein, Wing, and Valoski (1985). Childhood obesity is a major concern as not only can it have social problems related to children who may be bullied, but it can lead to serious illnesses in adult life such as diabetes and heart disease (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010). It is because of these alarming facts and figures that it is even more important to instill the benefits of physical activity and dietary habits in children. During middle childhood (6-10 years) many physical developmental changes occur in the child's body. These include slow but steady increases in weight and height and the fine-tuning of general motor skills that can then be used in more structured play activities. (McDev...... focus of the article ...... the role of recess in children's cognitive performance. Educational Psychologist, 32, 35-40. Cited in McDevitt, T., & Ormrod, JE (2010). GM and Volpe. SL (2006). Prevention of school obesity: research, challenges and recommendations, Journal of School Health, 76, 485-495. .Education (4th ed.).New Jersey. Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.Haerens, L., Deforche, B. Maes, L., Cardon, G., Stevens, V., & De Bourdeaudhuij. Evaluation of a two-year physical activity and healthy eating intervention in middle school children, 21, 911-921 Cited in McDevitt, T., & Ormrod, J. E. (2010). Merrill Prentice Hall.