Physically fit students and academic excellence go hand in hand

August 2, 9:40 PMNY Educational Benefits ExaminerOmar Branch

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Physically fit students tend to outscore their peers who are less-fit on academic tests, according to a new report from the Department of Education and the NYC Health Department. The observation comes from an analysis of data from NYC FITNESSGRAM, the comprehensive fitness assessment that New York City public school students participate in each year as part of their physical education instruction. The analysis also shows that childhood obesity remains prevalent in New York City – a finding that underscores the urgent need to ensure that school-age children receive nutritious meals, high-quality physical education, and ample opportunities for physical activity.
 
Fitness has been proven to promote a longer, healthier life. Although these new findings do not demonstrate a direct cause-and-effect relationship, they do show a strong association between fitness and academic success. During the 2007-08 school year, students who scored in the top 5% on their NYC FITNESSGRAM assessments outscored the bottom 5% by an average of 36 percentile points on standardized academic tests.
 
The new report also examines childhood obesity in New York City. The findings suggest that 21% of kindergarten through eighth grade students are obese, and an additional 18% of the City’s students are overweight.
 
How to help children be fit and develop healthy eating habits:
 
* Make sure kids get at least one hour of physical activity a day. Fun activities work best – try bicycling, dancing, jumping rope, playing basketball or going for a walk.
* Limit children’s TV, video game and Internet use.
* Prepare healthful meals at home. Offer children fruits and vegetables at every meal and snack.
* Don’t let children drink their calories. Choose water and low-fat milk, not juice or high-calorie, sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sodas.
* Encourage children to take advantage of healthy food choices provided at local schools.