Smarts follow fitness in school

I'm halfway finished with a masters in education, so anytime I read about new research on fitness and nutrition programs in schools, I get excited! Here's an intriguing new study out of Canada that reveals test scores rise when schools incorporate daily fitness and healthy eating campaigns.

Thirty-three Ontario schools participated in the Living Schools health drive where students exercised for 20 minutes daily, played extra sports and were discouraged from consuming junk food. Over two years, these schools saw their overall test scores rise by 18 percent in reading, writing and math, compared to around 4 percent for similar schools not in the program. Amazingly, scores in Grade 3 reading and Grade 3 math rose by as much as 50 percent and 39 percent, respectively. Fewer fights and better attendance, too.

No doubt, daily exercise and apples are investments in learning. School districts need to incorporate daily exercise, toss a la junk choices out of cafeteria lines and motivate students with health and fitness, not candy and pizza parties. Parents need to back up healthy school policies by preparing nutritional dinners, packing fruits/veggies for snacks and making time to regularly move with their kids. If we want childhood obesity rates to not only halt, but start lowering, it requires a dedicated, multi-pronged approach.