FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 2004

TITLE: STUDENTS’ POOR NUTRITION AND INACTIVITY COMES WITH A HEAVY ACADEMIC COST

Stillwater—A new report documents how the excessive rise in poor nutrition, inactivity and weight problems is adversely affecting academic achievement.

The report, The Learning Connection: The Value of Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity in Our Schools, released by the nation non-profit Action for Healthy kids, summarized a growing body of evidence demonstrating that poor nutrition, inactivity and weight problems can have a negative affect on student achievement. While the Learning Connection cautions that more research is needed to understand the link between poor nutrition, physical inactivity and academic achievement, it makes a strong case that these factors have an adverse affect on academic performance. For example:

• Schools with high percentages of students who did not routinely engage in physical activity or eat well had smaller gains in test scores than did other schools.
• Well-nourished students that skip breakfast perform worse of tests and have poor concentration
• Children not getting adequate nutrients have lower test scores, increased absenteeism, and difficulty concentrating and lower energy levels.
• Physical activity programs are linked to stronger academic achievement, increased concentration, and improved mat, reading, and writing test scores
• Students participating in daily physical education exhibit better attendance, a more positive attitude to school, and superior academic performance.

Schools have the unique opportunity to teach and model healthful eating and physical activity. Improving children’s health likely improves school performance. Therefore, schools have a vested interest in improving the nutrition and increasing the physical activity of their students.

Prepared by: Janice R. Hermann

Nutrition Specialist

Cooperative Extension – FCS

Room 333 HES, OSU

Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-6141

Phone (405) 744-6824

Fax: (405) 744-3538

Janice.hermann@okstate.edu