New Study Finds Fitter Students do Better Academically
By:
NWHF Staff
| Posted on: September 7th, 2010
| 
1 comments
| Share: 
Categories:
Disparities •
Economic Issues •
Education •
Policies & Laws •
Food & Nutrition •
Public Health
2010 Public Health Photo Contest Entry by Gabbi Schmitt, age 13
A Louisiana study of public school students’ physical fitness found the fittest students tended to perform better on state standardized tests.
This is new evidence demonstrating the threat to academic performance if physical education were to be eliminated from public schools as has been discussed in Portland.
The Picard Center for Child Development and Lifelong Learning analyzed results of tests taken by more than 25,000 students in 15 Louisiana school districts in the 2009-10 school year. The tests measure body mass index, body strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance. Researchers correlated the results with test scores and then controlled for socioeconomic status, race and gender.
Dr. Holly Howat, director of the Center’s health and obesity research, said the results confirm the importance of PE in schools, and also suggested setting nutrition standards for food and beverages offered in schools.
1 Comment:
Next entry: 
Previous entry: 
Back to main
Yes it’s true! A study by the California Department of Education (CDE) showed a direct relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness of the California public school students. The results found by the California Department of Education have been accepted by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). If we now have proof that physically fitter students perform better in school, why are we still cutting physical education courses in our public schools?
In July of this year $13 million dollars were cut in Portland Public Schools. The budget cuts in Portland Public Schools directly affected physical education. Since the budgets, elementary, K-8, and middle schools now only have part-time P.E. Teachers.
According to the Portland Public Schools’ website, there are 46,986 students enrolled in Portland Public Schools. Many of these students do not have the resources to exercise and stay active outside of school. Lack of resources may include; lack of time, parental/guardian support, safe demographics, parks and recreation, and lack of knowledge. If we do not provide these students with an environment to engage in physical activity and promote a healthy lifestyle, we cannot expect them to be healthy. It is the responsibility of the schools to promote and create health promotion activities for the students. Clearly our nation is dying from obesity and weight-related diseases. Cutting physical and health education from our schools is not the solution.
If we care about America and care about our future, we must reinvest in our schools. We must provide physical and health education for students; to educate and promote healthy lifestyle choices in a safe and caring environment.