The ultimate goal of any school district is the promotion of health, well-being, safety, and success of their students.  Unhealthy lifestyle habits, including inactivity and consumption of unhealthy foods, are contributing to the obesity epidemic that is effecting out nation’s youth.  School districts should make every effort to help increase student knowledge about healthy behaviors as well as provide guidance as to how to make successful changes.  Opportunities should be provided throughout the school day to practice these healthy habits and behavior changes in order to reinforce and model students’ new found knowledge.

 

(Monkey Business Images, n.d)

 

• Students who are lacking important nutrients such as vitamins A, B6, B12, C and calcium, have been shown to have increased absenteeism, lower grades, and increased tardiness.
• Students who eat nutrient rich foods have higher academic success.

 

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Health and academic achievement. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/health-academic-achievement.pdf.

Lewallen, T.C., Hunt, H., Potts-Datema, W., Zaza, S., Giles, W. (2015). The whole school, whole community, whole child model: A new approach for improving educational attainment and healthy development for students. Journal of School Health, 85, 729-739.