HELP FOR PARENTS OF: MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

Healthy bodies, better learners: helping kids stay fit and ready to learn

The nation’s obesity epidemic is major news. Over the past two decades, more and more adults and children have become overweight and unhealthy. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 15 percent (almost 9 million) kids ages 6 to 19 are overweight. This is triple the number of overweight children in 1980. Researchers blame less active lifestyles and poor eating habits in most of these cases. 

Along with increased weight have come other serious health problems. Among overweight children there have been related increases in Type 2 diabetes, early signs of heart disease, elevated blood pressure and cholesterol.

Another less publicized, but equally alarming side effect of childhood obesity is its negative impact on learning. Kids who are overweight due to a lack of physical activity: 

• Can have breathing problems that result in less oxygen reaching and fueling their brains.

• Are often less able to sit for comfortably for lengths of time.

• Can lack the upper body strength needed to hold themselves upright to listen and make proper eye-contact with teachers.

• May be less able to hold their arms in position to write, type and take notes.

Poor eating habits can also negatively affect children’s behavior in and out of school, as well as their ability to concentrate and perform complex tasks such as problem-solving or computing.

During the middle school years, when fitting in and having friends is so important, a weight problem can become an emotional health concern as well. Overweight kids are often the brunt of unkind comments, shunning or physical bullying. Not only does this make learning difficult, it can damage their self-esteem and mental health.

Family fitness

There are many things families can do to help their children stay fit, healthy and ready to learn. Here are some suggestions:

• Remember, kids come in all shapes and sizes. As they hit puberty, many teens will eat with abandon and even lay on a few extra pounds in advance of a major growth spurt. For pre-adolescent girls, an extra layer of fat is essential for healthy reproductive cycles. Before you implement an exercise program or limit their diets, plan a visit to your family doctor. He or she can let you know whether your children’s weight is within a healthy range and suggest a safe program of diet and exercise.
• Practice what you preach. When it comes to good health and nutrition, kids (even defiant “tweens”) do learn by example. Though they may gravitate towards chips and sugary drinks when they are outside the home, you can set the standard for good nutrition by serving wholesome foods when they are with you. At http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/pyramid.html you and your children can learn about the types of foods that make up a healthy diet.
• Make exercise a family affair. According to research by the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents who regularly exercise with their children reduce their risk of becoming overweight. This might mean volunteering as their basketball coach or simply taking a bike ride together after dinner a few nights a week. Not only will you be setting a good fitness standard for your family (and getting some exercise yourself), you will gain some precious time together with your kids.
• Encourage their interests/try something offbeat. Kids that are not fans of organized sports and activities might go for something more individualized like Tae Kwon Do or Pilates. Many local sport organizations and YMCAs offer one-day passes and introductory classes. For ideas, you and your children can check out the CDC’s extensive activity finder feature at http://www.verbparents.com/more.php.
• Make time for breakfast every day. When students eat a well balanced breakfast at home or school, they have more lasting energy for learning than those who eat on the run and/or choose high fat and sugar items like doughnuts and sweet juice drinks. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes that even healthy, well-nourished kids that occasionally skip breakfast do not perform well with test-taking. To encourage a nutritious morning meal, think outside of the cereal box. A breakfast burrito or slice of veggie pizza is just as wholesome as waffles and O.J.
• Sit down to a family dinner. According to a Prevention magazine survey, children in families that are served wholesome, home-cooked meals are less likely to have weight problems than those in families that regularly eat out or bring meals in. When families eat together, they take time to stay in touch with each other. Eating at a slower pace also allows kids to listen to their bodies’ signals that they’ve had enough to eat.

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