American children are getting fatter and fatter. Current statistics tell us that over one-third of American kids are overweight or obese. And the numbers continue to climb each year.

Recent articles in Time magazine highlighted why both school age and preschool aged children are getting heavier—a lack of exercise.

As standardized test scores in the US continue to decline, some administrators and parents believe that cutting physical education in favor of increased classroom instructional time is a solution to boost academic performance. In fact, a recent article in the Huffington Post described a Texas school district that cut all athletic programming in an “effort to boost student performance.”

But the rationale to eliminate sports and physical education from the curriculum may have two unintended consequences: an increase in obesity and a decrease in academic performance.

In a recent study reported in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine it was found that physical activity is associated with better academic performance, as measured by higher GPAs and better scores on standardized tests.

In fact, the study showed a direct correlation between the amount of physical activity and academic achievement. The more physical activity the children had, the higher their scores in school, particularly in the basic subjects of math, English and reading.

Being more active, according to the study, may improve blood flow to the brain, which provides more oxygen to cells involved in learning and attention. Exercise also boosts levels of certain hormones that can improve mood and fight stress, both of which can also provide a better learning environment for children.

“Children learn by participating in sports, learning rules, and learning to act appropriately in a social environment,” say Amika Singh, the lead research scientist on the study. “And that translates into the classroom, where children who are physically active may adhere better to classroom rules and get along better with teachers and classmates. So academic performance may just be the short term benefit of exercise; there are a whole range of social and behavioral benefits that go beyond grades as well.”

The problem is not just limited to school-aged kids. Preschoolers are also at increased risk for obesity because of their lack of physical activity. Approximately 75% of US preschoolers spend the majority of their day in childcare centers. In these centers, studies show what the kids are not moving for 70% to 83% of their hours there—with only 2% to 3% of their time being engaged in physical activity.

Concerned with these statistics, Dr. Kristen Copeland, a pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, conducted a series of focus groups with 49 child care providers in the area to determine the reasons why preschoolers in child care get so little exercise. The results, which were recently published in the journal Pediatrics, showed three primary reasons: concerns about the children injuring themselves while at play, financial constraints that limited some centers’ ability to purchase playground equipment, and a growing emphasis on academic learning over unstructured physical play time.

Yet, encouraging kids to be physically active from younger ages helps them to learn better and increases their social skills. Furthermore, rather than trying to convince sedentary older kids to start exercising, it is likely considerably more effective to establish exercise as a good habit at an early age. “Children develop mastery of gross motor skills — climbing, throwing and catching ball, skipping and learning to control their body — on their own at an early age, and these skills aren’t taught in school,” says Copeland. “And children who are most comfortable with these skills show more self confidence and have better peer relationships than children who don’t.”

So what is a parent to do? First, make sure that your children are getting sufficient exercise in their school environment. Challenge the decrease in recess and physical education. Make sure that the playground is adequate and that the kids are permitted to run. (Yes, there are schools that have banned running on the playground for fear that kids will hurt themselves. Really. It’s true. I can’t make this stuff up.) Encourage your kids to be active at home. Limit screen time. Take family walks. Play games that involve chasing and running. Finally, bring your kids to JAG Gym. We will make sure that they get a great workout, have a blast and develop the foundations for a lifetime of fitness!

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