To provide children with a healthier start, local elected officials commit to helping early care and education program providers incorporate best practices for nutrition, physical activity and screen time into their programs.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

To date approximately 2, 000 child care professionals and organizations have registered online to implement new criteria for nutrition, physical activity and limiting screen time.

WHITEHOUSE: Our Top Stories

As of January of 2013, more than 10, 000 child care professionals and organizations have registered to implement new criteria for nutrition, physical activity, and limited screen time.

WHITEHOUSE: Our Top Stories

In fact, occupational sitting time is where the epidemiology of physical activity first began, writes one researcher in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

CNN: Sitting for hours can shave years off life

Another finalist, the Healthy Schools, Healthy Families' "Just Move" program in New York and New Jersey, added five-minute breaks into students' daily routine while addressing another obstacle in the fight to add physical activity in schools: how to avoid taking away classroom time.

CNN: Schools given $25K to help kids move

They may also begin to need to do more and more of the activity over time to feel the effects, and experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms if they can't do it.

BBC: Why anything can be addictive

Their life included a mix of physical activity, family involvement, travel and volunteer work, with the possibility of some part time work to feel productive.

FORBES: Dreams and Values

Since running is a more intense type of physical activity, runners generally burn more calories and develop a higher intensity of energy expenditure over a shorter period of time.

FORBES: Brisk Walking or Running: Both Reduce Risk for Heart Disease