Adolescent physical activity policies refer to institutional arrangements that aim to improve youth health levels through exercise-based interventions, encompassing strategic decisions, administrative mechanisms, and supervisory guarantees (12). After reviewing the literature, we roughly found that existing studies on adolescent physical activity policies mainly focus on three dimensions: policy evolution, policy components, and policy implementation. First, a chronological analysis of adolescent physical activity policies has been conducted to identify their evolutionary patterns (13, 14). For example, in China, the policy trajectory has undergone a transformation from initial institutionalization, standardization and legalization, to consolidation and socialization. This process reflects a governance paradigm shift from “Strengthening Physical Fitness” to “Integration of Sports and Education (15–17).” Second, scholars have explored key policy components such as national recommendations, national goals, surveillance systems, and public education (18). These studies analyze how elements including physical activity promotion, service provision, and supportive mechanisms within policies affect the enhancement of adolescent physical fitness (19, 20). Third, research has examined various forms of policy implementation, including symbolic implementation, selective implementation, and additive implementation, in order to assess their effects on increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior (21–23). These reflections have also drawn attention to limitations within the policies themselves. Although prior studies have made valuable contributions to understanding adolescent physical activity policies, several limitations remain: (1) Limited analytical scope: many papers tend to interpret policy background, intent, or content from a narrative perspective, with a strong degree of subjectivity. (2) Insufficient critical reflection: while developmental patterns are often analyzed from a temporal perspective, there is a lack of in-depth critique regarding policy shortcomings. (3) Fragmented evaluation approaches: despite the use of data analysis or surveys based on policy texts, there is a scarcity of studies employing unified and multidimensional indicators to conduct systematic quantitative evaluation. Consequently, in-depth analysis that can accurately identify the strengths and weaknesses of policies remains insufficient.

Quantitative research on policy texts primarily draws upon the methods and knowledge of disciplines such as statistics and econometrics to conduct text mining, content analysis, and functional identification, thereby enabling comprehensive evaluation of policies (24). The policy modeling consistency (PMC) index model is one such method developed from a quantitative policy evaluation perspective. It constructs a unified evaluation indicator system based on the textual elements of policies, aiming to provide a multidimensional and systematic assessment of policy quality (25). First proposed by Ruiz Estrada (26), the PMC-Index model has rapidly gained traction due to its analytical advantages and has since been widely applied across various policy domains. It is now considered a cutting-edge and popular tool in the field of policy evaluation. For instance, Li et al. (27) conducted a quantitative evaluation of science education policies in primary and secondary schools in China during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Their results highlighted limitations in policy nature, policy perspectives, and policy focus, and provided targeted recommendations for policy optimization. Similarly, Zhang et al. (28) evaluated 10 highly representative data security policies issued between 2016 and 2023, noting deficiencies in the practicality, orientation, and coordination of policy tools, and advocated for enhancing the utility value of hybrid policy instruments. In addition, the PMC-Index model has been extensively applied in the evaluation of policies supporting traditional Chinese medicine (29–31), clinical research policies (32), policies for promoting the high-quality development of provincial-level public hospitals (33), and the “Healthy China” initiative (34). These studies demonstrate the model's broad applicability and strong objectivity, offering valuable insights for both theoretical research and practical policy making.

The construction of the PMC-Index model involves four main steps: variable selection and parameter identification; construction of the multi-input-output table; calculation of the PMC-Index; and drawing of PMC surface diagram (35, 36). To obtain more accurate evaluation indicators, we have enhanced the mining of policy texts, thereby aligning the evaluation more closely with Physical fitness policies (Figure 1).

In the process of collecting policies related to adolescent Physical fitness promotion, this study adopted the following retrieval strategy to ensure both comprehensiveness and accuracy of the policy texts. First, keywords such as “physical fitness,” “adolescent sports,” “school sports,” and “physical and mental health” were used to search for documents across multiple platforms, including the “Government Documents” database on CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and the official websites of relevant central government agencies (e.g., the State Council, General Administration of Sport of China, Ministry of Education, and National Health Commission). A total of 282 policy documents were obtained from this initial search. Second, the documents were filtered and de-duplicated according to the following criteria: (1) publication dates ranging from January 2000 to December 2024; (2) policies targeting adolescents or students; (3) policies promoting physical fitness through physical activity. After applying these filters, a total of 40 policy documents were retained for further analysis. Third, the policy texts were imported into ROSTCM6.0 software for preprocessing through data cleaning. Nouns and general terms with limited semantic value—such as “student,” “development,” and “work”—were filtered out. Subsequently, semantically similar terms, such as “sports” and “exercise” or “stadium” and “playground,” were merged to generate the high-frequency term list (Table 1).

High-frequency terms with a frequency >150 from the adolescent Physical fitness promotion policy corpus were retained. Using the “semantic network co-occurrence” function of the software, these high-frequency thematic terms were connected in the form of a frequency matrix (Figure 2). The nodes “sports” and “health” emerged as the most prominent, occupying the core positions within the graph. The terms most frequently connected to them—such as “school” and “education”—highlight the central policy logic: promoting adolescent physical activity primarily through school-based education to foster health and holistic development. Furthermore, the frequent appearance of terms like “management,” “reform,” “evaluation,” and “supervision” underscores the government's consistent prioritization of adolescent health, emphasizing policy implementation through enhanced governance and oversight mechanisms. In addition, terms such as “teachers,” “facilities,” “stadiums,” and “competitions” reflect the infrastructural and human resource requirements essential for delivering physical activity programs. Notably, terms like “public health” and “public services” have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, indicating a paradigm shift—adolescent Physical fitness promotion is no longer confined to the education sector, but is gradually being integrated into the broader public service system, necessitating joint efforts from schools, community organizations, and sports clubs.

First, based on the frequency statistics and the semantic network of high-frequency terms, and following the principles of broad policy coverage, high thematic relevance, and strong policy influence, 12 policies were initially selected from the original pool of forty. Second, the expert consultation method was applied. Eight experts with extensive experience in adolescent physical fitness and a strong sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for school sports were invited to evaluate whether each policy qualified as a “representative policy”. In the first round of evaluation, three policies did not receive support from a majority of the experts and were therefore excluded. Finally, a second round of consultation was conducted on the remaining nine policies. All nine received unanimous agreement from the expert panel and were confirmed as the final policy samples for analysis (Table 2). Among these, four policies were issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, representing the highest level of political authority in China. The other five were issued by relevant ministries and commissions directly involved in adolescent Physical fitness promotion.

Drawing on the indicator systems used in policy evaluation by scholars such as Guo et al. (29), Yang et al. (31), and Ruiz Estrada (26), this study first established primary indicators. Based on the practical context of adolescent Physical fitness promotion in China, secondary indicators under the dimension of policy target groups (X5) were developed. Additionally, informed by the high-frequency terms and semantic network derived from policy text analysis, secondary indicators for policy priorities (X6) and policy functions (X7) were constructed. Following consultation with the aforementioned panel of eight experts, the final evaluation framework was established, consisting of 10 primary variables and 38 secondary variables (see Table 3).

First, each secondary variable was assigned a binary value of 0 or 1 in accordance with Equations 1, 2. Although a few previous studies have adopted differentiated scoring schemes for individual indicators, this study follows the mainstream approach of binary assignment. Second, the values of each primary variable X_t were calculated using Equation 3, with a possible range of 1–10. Third, based on Equation 4, the PMC-Index for each of the nine policy samples was calculated by summing the values of their primary variables. Referring to the PMC-Index rating criteria proposed by Ruiz Estrada (26), and taking into account the specific context of Physical fitness promotion policies, the evaluation results were classified into six levels (see Table 4).

Subsequently, according to Equation 4, sum up the scores of the primary variables of the nine sample policies to calculate the PMC-Index for China's football development policies. Meanwhile, the study divides the quality levels of the nine China's football development policies into four grades according to the policy scores: Perfect (9–10 points), Excellent (7–8.99 points), Acceptable (5–6.99 points), and Poor (0–4.99 points) (Table 4).

Based on the formulas of the PMC-Index model, the scores of nine adolescent Physical fitness promotion policies in China were calculated (see Table 5). The average score across the nine policies was 6.83, all falling within the “Acceptable” level or above, indicating an overall favorable performance. Moreover, the policy quality has shown an upward trend over time, suggesting that the evolving series of policies has played a significant and positive role in promoting high-quality school physical education, deepening the integration of physical education and academic learning, and continuously enhancing students' Physical fitness and overall competencies.

This study has 10 primary variables, among which X10 has no secondary variables and all policy scores are 1. In view of the symmetry of the PMC matrix and the balance of the PMC surface, this item is excluded to form a 3 × 3 third-order PMC matrix Equation 5.

The PMC surface plot is a visualization of the PMC-Index, which not only clearly and intuitively presents the scoring of various dimensional indicators in policy texts through its degree of concavity and average convexity-concavity but also examines the internal consistency level, structural rationality, and specific performance of individual indicators within a single policy document. Due to space constraints, this paper displays surface plots (Figure 3) of four policies with the highest, lowest, and median PMC indices. As shown, the highest-scoring P5 and P8 exhibit smooth surfaces, while P1 and P2 display noticeable concavities, indicating certain deficiencies in specific aspects.

Based on thematic semantic network analysis and content-based text evaluation, as well as the calculated PMC-Index scores and surface plot construction, the average score across the nine adolescent Physical fitness promotion policies in China was 0.77. This indicates a high degree of rationality, scientific rigor, and effectiveness in the overall policy design and planning. The quality of policy expression was found to be relatively strong (see Figure 4).

As part of a national strategic framework, adolescent Physical fitness promotion policies in China typically follow a 5-year policy cycle, which facilitates timely adjustments in accordance with education reform and youth health monitoring data. These policies have consistently adhered to the principle of “health first” (X1), with a clear emphasis on “giving higher priority to improving students' Physical fitness” (P4). The highest-level policies concerning adolescent Physical fitness were issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, the country's top governing bodies, which provide authoritative and strategic guidance. Sector-specific policies are mainly formulated by relevant ministries, with the Ministry of Education focusing on school-based physical education, and the General Administration of Sport aiming to enhance adolescent sports participation and competition at the societal level. Together, they form a coordinated policy structure involving central decision-making, ministerial implementation, and multi-agency collaboration including the Communist Youth League and the Central Civilization Office (X2, X3). A combination of supply-side, environment-oriented, and demand- driven policy tools has been employed to guide and regulate the development of adolescent Physical fitness promotion in China (X4).

The school remains the primary setting for intervention, where improved teaching staff and facilities help to strengthen external conditions. At the same time, a broader societal sports culture is cultivated to instill a scientific understanding of education, talent development, and health among youth, educators, and the general public. This supportive environment encourages the adoption of regular physical activity routines, such as 1–2 h of daily exercise (X6). Policies also promote collaboration between schools, sports schools, and community-based sports clubs to jointly carry out physical education, training, and competitions (X5). By articulating the value of physical activity in enhancing student health, the policies call for local governments and departments to implement these strategies in alignment with local conditions. Governmental and school-level awareness and commitment to Physical fitness are thus elevated. Furthermore, the policies mobilize families and society at large to support adolescent exercise initiatives, with supervision and inspection mechanisms reinforcing implementation efforts (X7). The policy goals (X8) are clearly defined, encompassing both qualitative objectives—such as “getting students onto the playground, under the sun, and into nature” (P2)—and quantitative targets, such as “ensuring that more than 85% of students engage in at least 1 h of daily exercise” (P1). Implementation is primarily secured through administrative mechanisms, including leadership organization, supervision and inspection, and performance-based evaluation and accountability measures (X9).

The overall performance of adolescent Physical fitness promotion policies was relatively strong. Among them, the top three policies—P8 (8.33), P5 (8.13), and P4 (7.73)—show smooth peaks in the surface plots, particularly P5 and P8. This can be attributed to several factors. First, all three were issued by the General Office of the State Council, which highlights their strategic importance. These policies feature broad coverage and clearly articulate their intentions in terms of policy rationale, objectives, guiding principles, core tasks, and implementation suggestions. Second, each of these policies demonstrates a comprehensive deployment of national-level functions. They serve as both guiding and regulatory tools by raising stakeholder awareness, encouraging social support, structuring time allocation for physical activity, and reinforcing the implementation process. Third, they place a clear emphasis on enforcement. For example, P8 specifies that local governments, education departments, and school administrators who fail to implement the policy effectively, resulting in declining Physical fitness standards or poor assessment outcomes among students, should be held accountable in accordance with legal and administrative procedures. By contrast, lower-scoring policies such as P1 (5.15) and P3 (5.70) show visible concavity in the surface plots. P1 focuses on promoting enthusiasm for physical exercise through seven proposed strategies, but it lacks sufficient policy safeguards such as dedicated funding, incentive mechanisms, or accountability frameworks. Similarly, P3 concentrates on the implementation of “1 h of daily exercise,” yet fails to address supporting aspects such as publicity and awareness, facility provision, or organizational leadership, all of which are essential for achieving the policy's intended outcomes.

Adolescent health and development occupy a foundational and strategic position in China. The government has continuously advanced youth Physical fitness through targeted policy measures. From 2012 to 2022, the number of physical education teachers in the compulsory education system increased from 430,000 to 700,000, representing a 62.8% growth. The proportion of schools meeting the required standards for sports field (or gymnasium) areas rose from 51% to 94.1%, while the proportion of schools with adequate sports equipment increased from 52% to 97.3%. Additionally, the proportion of adolescents with “excellent” or “good” physical fitness increased from 26.5% in 2016 to 38.5% in 2021 (37). These achievements are of great significance to the realization of the Chinese Dream and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Compared with other regions, Chinese policy texts are characterized by a “directive” style, with concise language and strong authority. Policy goals are reinforced through clearly defined quantitative targets, resource provision, and accountability mechanisms. In contrast, Western policy documents typically adopt a “discursive” style. For instance, the United States' National Youth Sports Strategy spans 112 pages and incorporates extensive data and academic references to establish policy rationale, aiming to build consensus and guide implementation across regions. The Chinese approach reflects the institutional advantage of socialism, namely the ability to “concentrate efforts on major undertakings,” and thus demonstrates high policy efficiency. To further advance adolescent Physical fitness in China, the following areas of policy optimization are recommended.

We emphasize that the policy evaluation method employed in this study, the PMC-Index model is scarce in the adolescent Physical fitness. To a certain extent, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of China's adolescent Physical fitness initiatives, lays a theoretical foundation for future policy development, and provides new ideas for enhancing policy design and implementation. However, this study is not without limitations due to temporal and scope-related constraints. First, the analysis is limited to national-level policies and does not include local government initiatives. For instance, the Sichuan Provincial Department of Education issued the Notice on Ensuring a Minimum of Two Hours of Daily Physical Activity for Primary and Secondary School Students, which implements including refining the multi-level competition system (spanning class, school, county, municipal, and provincial tiers) and establishing model schools with distinctive sports features. These initiatives effectively facilitate the implementation of the “2-h” requirement across Sichuan province, demonstrating significant research value for policy studies. Second, the selected policy samples are confined to China and do not involve cross-national comparisons. Future research can be carried out in the following directions: (1) conduct targeted analyses of adolescent Physical fitness policies issued by local governments, taking into account regional differences in economic development, educational resources, and youth growth patterns. These studies may provide practical references for bottom-up policy innovation. (2) Adopt a cross-national perspective to compare adolescent Physical fitness policies across countries. Such comparative studies may offer culturally sensitive insights for optimizing China's adolescent health policy system in line with global trends.