Nigeria Health & Lifstyle

Physical Fitness Associated With Higher Academic Achievement Continued...

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 school.

“The clear associations between fitness and academic achievement highlighted in the report underline the importance of educating the whole child,” said Santiago Taveras, Deputy Chancellor I.A. of the DOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning.



“Under Mayor Bloomberg, the Health Department and the Department of Education have formed a unique partnership to address critical issues in the areas of public health and public education,” said Dr. Roger Platt, director of the Office of School Health, which is jointly run by the two agencies. “This dual-agency collaboration is a model for how a comprehensive approach to student wellness can help support both student health and academic achievement.”

“Our students need high-quality fitness and health education in order to succeed in school and in life,” said Lori Rose Benson, director of Department of Education’s Office of Fitness and Health Education. “The results of this study reinforce the importance of the work that teachers and administrators throughout the city do on a daily basis to provide all children with the opportunities and knowledge to improve their health and fitness.”

Source: New York City Health Department

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