ActivEd Blog

According to a new study, "Physical activity not only makes kids feel better and helps them develop healthy habits, it's also good for the nation's bottom line." The study results were published May 1, 2017 in the journal Health Affairs.

Why is it so important to fight childhood obesity? Risks for obese children include:

• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Type 2 Diabetes 
• Depression

Recently, the New York Times reported on two new studies from Denmark. A longitudinal study of more than 500,000 children found that overweight children have increased risk of early strokes and cancer as adults. The article also noted that overweight children have an 80% chance of becoming overweight adults. Learn more about the health risks for overweight children by reading the article.

Both a healthy diet and physical activity are important for children as they grow up. Walkabouts can help your students stay active while they learn! Get more information on Walkabouts to find out how simple it is to get your students moving. 

New research from the National Institute on Aging (of the National Institutes of Health) found that during exercise, muscles release a protein that seems to create new cells related to memory. From the NPR story:

CNBC recently reported on a year-long pilot program on using active classroom furniture. From the article: 

School is almost out at Oakridge Elementary School, but the verdict is already in: Kids who move more, learn better.

That's the consensus of teachers, parents and pupils after a one-year pilot program that introduced active classroom furniture into the Arlington, Virginia, school. Pedal desks, standing balance desks, and kid-sized ball chairs kept students moving while they learned. The results were remarkable.

"Some of the behaviors that teachers noticed increase were time on task, cooperation with each other, having an opportunity to sit and read for longer periods of time, complete worksheets or hands-on assignments without touching or wiggling or being disruptive to the learning community," said Oakridge Principal Lynne Wright.

This study confirms the research of our founder, Dr. Julian Reed. Active kids learn better. Looking for more information? Download our free ebook, Move to Learn: Exploring the Benefits of Movement in the Classroom. 

A new research study was recently published by the American College of Sports Medicine: Physical Activity, Fitness, Cognitive Function, and Academic Achievement in Children: A Systematic Review by Joseph E. Donnelly, Ed.D, FACSM (Co-Chair); Charles H. Hillman, Ph.D. Co-Chair; Darla Castelli, Ph.D.; Jennifer L. Etnier, Ph.D., FACSM; Sarah Lee, Ph.D.; Phillip Tomporowski, Ph.D., FACSM; Kate Lambourne, Ph.D.; and Amanda N. Szabo-Reed, Ph.D.