Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107245

Diane Allensworth, PhD, RN, Division of Public & Private Partnerships, Centers for Disease Control, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, 404-785-7251, dda6@cdc.gov and Christi Kay, MA, Kids' Health, 1655 Tullie Circle NE, Atlanta, GA 30329.

Reducing obesity is a public health priority with educational implications. Three in ten Georgia middle school students (29.7 percent) were at risk for overweight or were actually overweight. Obese children face both physical and psychological barriers that can reduce academic achievement. Overweight students were four times more likely to report "impaired school functioning". Increased physical activity and improved nutrition is related to a reduction in obesity. There is strong evidence that school-based physical education is effective in increasing the levels of physical activity, physical fitness and improved nutrition. Increased physical activity leads to higher levels of fitness, which is associated with higher achievement. Kids' Health initiated a multifaceted program that will increase physical fitness, physical activity and nutrition among students in thirteen schools. Strategies target students, school staff and families. The objectives have been designed with the goal of achieving state HPE standards. Increasing physical activity and fitness testing are required as well as increased physical education activities at school in the classroom, after school, and at home as well as in the gym. This project encourages school teams to address improvement of the physical education and the school nutrition program as a strategy to improve achievement of students. Families are involved in substantial ways that supplement classroom instruction. School staff participate in numerous work site wellness programs to improve their function as a role model. This session will describe how the school is striving for continuous improvement in physical activity and nutrition programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify techniques to increase the number of students that are engaged daily in developmentally appropriate, health-related fitness activities and physical activity;
• Describe the process for increasing the number of students in 4th through 8th grades who can pass a physical fitness assessment;
• Evaluate what strategies of a physical activity program are effective in increasing physical activity and fitness;
• Describe the relationship between increased physical activity and/or physical fitness and an improvement in academic performance.

Keywords: Children's Health, School-Based Programs

Related Web page: www.kidshealthga.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.