Why Should Schools Care About Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity?

Both adult and youth populations in the United States are experiencing a dramatic increase in rates of overweight/obesity. Along with extensive health, social, and work consequences resulting from weight-related diseases, there is an emerging body of research that suggests that students who are overwieght or obese get lower grades than other students. There are several contributing factors, including research that suggests that:

• Overweight/Obese students miss significatly more days of school than youth who have a healthier weight.
• Overweight/Obese students suffer poor self-perception and are targets of peer-to-peer harrassment.
• Overweight/Obese students utilize higher levels of guidance, school nursing, and learning assistance resources resulting in net cost increases for schools.
• Students who are physically active are more "ready-to-learn."

Important articles/information sources for school leaders and educators to review include:

• The Learning Connection: The Value of Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity in Our Schools

  http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/resources/files/learning-connec...
  This short publication by Action for Healthy Kids summarizes a variety of research regarding the impact of overweight/obesity on children, with an emphasis on research-demonstrated school/learning impacts of obesity, nutrition, and physical activity.
  

• Documented Increase in Obesity, 1985-2008, By State

  www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html#State
  This CDC developed trend-map visually shows the significant rate of increase in obesity in the US by state over the period 1985-2008.