How can schools nurture healthy, well-educated students?
By Bruce KiddFaculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
University of Toronto
1. Massive evidence for physical activity (PA) and health eating as contributors to healthy growth and development and effective learning
2. To enhance PA through public education, we must strengthen three effective but neglected avenues:◦ HPE curriculum◦ After-school sports◦ Active school transport
4
3 risk factors cause four chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, many cancers and chronic lung disease) that cause over 50% of deaths worldwide.
The risk factors are:
Tobacco use
Lack of physical activity
Unhealthy diet (including harmful use of alcohol)
Only 7% of Canadian children receive recommended 60 minutes daily
Upper-class children 3X more likely to participate than those from lower class households
Primary and secondary prevention of non-communicable
diseases (NCDs), especially cardio-respiratory diseases,
diabetes, some cancers, and obesity.
Strengthened immune surveillance, reduced risk of
infection.
Strengthened bone health, reduced risk of osteoporosis.
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Strengthened social inclusion.
Strengthened community safety, reduced youth
crime.
Fewer sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted
pregnancies, sexual assaults.
Increased school retention, academic
achievement, and school safety.
Strengthened citizenship (moral behaviour,
empathy, reasoning and leadership).
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1. Release and implement the 2010 Ontario curriculum, with much improved sections on◦ Sexual health◦ Healthy eating◦ Drug and alcohol awareness
◦ Mental health challenges
While keeping coaching voluntary, boards and schools recognize the time commitment as part of workload
Teachers unions respect members’ decisions to coach, and recognize ‘the negative impact on students when they consider using withdrawal of services from co-instructional activities as a bargaining tactic.’
Promote school travel planning, through education, enforcement, improved infrastructure, etc.
Figure 1
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