Richard Simmons

WASHINGTON — Decked out in a red rhinestone-jeweled tank-top patterned with stars and stripes, fitness celebrity Richard Simmons held court Thursday on Capitol Hill as he urged support for a bill sponsored by Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., to boost physical education classes in public schools.

“There is a huge epidemic going on,” Mr. Simmons said to a throng of adoring fans and curious tourists. “If you don’t exercise, if your self-esteem is low, if you’re not eating healthy, that leads to stress and depression, and we have to knock that out with our kids.”

Rep. Wamp’s Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act would amend the federal No Child Left Behind act to include PE among its performance measures, in addition to subjects such as math, reading and science. The bill would require schools to make progress toward national PE goals of 150 minutes per week for elementary school students and 225 minutes per week for middle and high school students.

“By taking action to increase physical activity and reduce obesity amongst our youth, we can improve academic performance, decrease medical costs and save lives,” said Rep. Wamp, a co-founder of the Congressional Fitness Caucus who is co-sponsoring the bill with Reps. Ron Kind, D-Wis., and Jay Inslee, D-Wash.

The bill is backed by a coalition of health groups that note childhood obesity is rising as schools cut back on PE programs.

Along with former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown, Mr. Simmons testified before the House Education and Labor Committee, saying he commissioned a survey of 60,000 people in which 94 percent said they believed PE should be required at all school levels.

However, Mr. Simmons said, 40 percent of survey respondents reported their children had just one PE class or less per week.

“I am well aware that many of our teachers are working under stressful conditions,” Mr. Simmons testified. “I am also aware that time and funding are serious issues that must be addressed to solve this PE crisis. However, I know that fit kids are healthier and appear to learn better.”

After the hearing, Mr. Simmons, who recently turned 60 and has produced scores of fitness videos, including “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” led the assembled crowd at a news conference through a series of animated exercises to peppy music.

“As a child, I hated sports,” he said. “I never fit in. I was obese. I sat on the bench for elementary school, high school and college. At 23, I took my first exercise class and I was bitten by the sweat bug.”

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