澳门跑狗论坛

Student Well-Being Explainer

Student Health

By 澳门跑狗论坛 Staff 鈥 September 21, 2004 | Updated: July 22, 2011 6 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Editor鈥檚 Note: For more recent information on student health, please read our 2022 explainer, The School Year Is Getting Hotter. How Does Heat Affect Student Learning and Well-Being? and our 2018 explainer, 7 Things to Know About School Recess.

For many years, it seemed that schools鈥 obligations in the realm of student health were limited to treating playground injuries, conducting head-lice searches, and providing a central location for children鈥檚 vaccinations.

Today, in part because of rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and asthma among adolescents, schools are being asked to take a much more active role in promoting students鈥 physical well-being. Attention has been focused in particular on physical activity, nutrition and health, and environmental conditions in school buildings.

Physical Activity

From the mid-1960s to 2008, the more than quadrupled鈥攔ising from 4.2 percent to 16.9 percent among children ages 6-11, and from 4.6 percent to 18.1 percent among teenagers, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2010a). Experts often cite lack of physical activity as a leading cause of the rising obesity rate among children, pointing to the increasingly prevalent roles of cars, television, and computers in children鈥檚 lives (CDC, 2011; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001).

While much of this sedentary time is passed outside of school, many parents look to schools to fix the problem. In a 2011 national survey by the C.S. Mott Children鈥檚 Hospital at the University of Michigan, for example, 94 percent of parents of children ages 6 to 11 said it was very important for elementary-age children to have physical activities during the school day, and one-third said their children didn鈥檛 get enough at school. Providing opportunities for daily physical activity is also at the core of past recommendations for schools from the U.S. Surgeon General (C.S. Mott Children鈥檚 Hospital, 2011; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001).

While physical education is not viewed as a core academic subject in many states, adequate physical activity by students has been linked to higher academic achievement. Some studies show that students who devote a significant amount of time to physical activity exceed the academic achievement of those who do not; active students often exhibit higher energy and greater concentration (Dwyer et al., 2001; Shepherd, 1997; Davis, et al, 2011).

The success of schools in promoting physical activity among children and adolescents has been mixed. In 2009, only 56 percent of high school students attended physical education classes, and only 33 percent did so on a daily basis, down from 42 percent in 1991 (CDC, 2010b). Some school systems have had to reduce recess and physical education time and limit after-school sports because of funding constraints and rising pressures to meet state academic demands (Borja, 2002).

Nutrition

High obesity rates and a growing concern about student nutrition have also caused states, schools, and the federal government to reconsider cafeteria menus.

During the 1990s, schools participating in the National School Lunch Program鈥攖he federal government鈥檚 subsidized-meals program for students鈥攎ade significant improvements in the nutritional value of the lunches they provided, including reductions in fat and saturated fat levels (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2001). As the prevalence of pre-packaged and processed foods in schools, as well as obesity, continued to increase, however, lawmakers saw a need for greater involvement.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, passed in 2010, required sweeping changes to school breakfasts and lunches. The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed regulations related to the act that would require schools to serve more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, and limit sodium and calories. The regulations also would require water to be provided at lunch, would ban flavored milk that isn鈥檛 fat-free, and would regulate contents of vending machines in schools (澳门跑狗论坛, 2011).

While some complaints surfaced about the costs to schools to meet the regulations, such as new equipment and more expensive food, several districts began moving forward with their own improvements. The Los Angeles Unified School District was among several districts that dropped chocolate milk from their cafeteria options in 2011. Others began embracing locally grown food and farm-to-school programs, often with state support (Farm to School, 2010).

Still, other sources of food in schools have fallen short. In particular, vending machines and school-run shops frequently offer students enticing selections of junk foods and high-sugar sodas, which have been linked to an increased risk of childhood obesity (U.S. General Accounting Office, 2003; Ludwig, et al, 2001).

In a published in the online Journal of Adolescent Health in 2011, researchers examined the impact of vending machine food on nearly 6,000 students鈥 food choices and found that those whose elementary schools had vending machines containing food with minimal nutritional value, such as chips, soft drinks and candy, tended to eat more sweets, while those whose school vending machines contained fruit or vegetables, such as carrots, ate more produce than their counterparts in other schools (Rovner, et al, 2011). Food-group representatives have objected to regulations, however, saying that, rather than restrict students鈥 choices, schools should educate students about making sensible eating decisions (GAO, 2003; Borja, 2002).

In addition to providing adequate nutrition with their meals, schools increasingly must be vigilant in ensuring the safety of the food. From 1999 to 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention鈥檚 outbreak data identified 478 associated with schools that affected at least 10,770 children (GAO, 2010). In the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Congress required schools involved in federal meal programs to be in an effort to improve food safety (Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2007).

Environment

While food-borne disease poses a significant health risk to students, the most common chronic illness among students by far is asthma, with nearly 7.1 million children affected (American Lung Association, 2010). Environmental irritants found in schools鈥攑articularly mold, cockroaches, and dander鈥攃an cause asthma attacks in students to be more pronounced and common. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, asthma accounts for more than 14 million missed school days per year. It can also disrupt students鈥 sleep and daily routines (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011b).

To combat the problem, the EPA advises schools to take systematic action to rid their buildings of asthma 鈥渢riggers鈥 and to develop comprehensive 鈥渁sthma management plans鈥 that coordinate treatment for affected children. Calling attention to the complexity and breadth of the epidemic, meanwhile, a panel of national experts on asthma has called for a greater national coordination of efforts to treat and prevent the illness (including programs for schools), as well as a greater commitment of resources (EPA, 2011b; Lara et al, 2002).

School environments can also affect students through allergens, poor ventilation, and dangerous chemicals. Following a 1999 U.S. Department of Education finding that 43 percent of schools in the United States reported at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition, the EPA launched a public-awareness campaign to help school employees and parents prevent, identify, and correct air-quality problems. The agency has found that poor air quality can have measurable effects on both student health and academic performance (EPA, 2011a).

In approaching all of these student health issues, a common recommendation has been the adoption of comprehensive school health policies that bring physical and health education into regular classroom instruction, encouraging healthy choices as part of academic learning. Some schools in low-income communities have developed school-based clinics to bring services that children might otherwise not get.

Sources
American Lung Association, 鈥淎sthma and Children Fact Sheet,鈥 2011.
Borja, R., 鈥淗ealthy Schools Summit Weighs in on Obesity,鈥 澳门跑狗论坛, 22 (7), p.7, 2002.
Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2007
C.S. Mott Children鈥檚 Hospital, 鈥淣ational Poll on Children鈥檚 Health: Gym Gone but Not Forgotten?鈥 University of Michigan, 2011.
Davis, et al, Health Psychology, 2011.
Dwyer, T., Sallis, J.F., Blizzard, L., Lazaurs, R., and Dean, K., 鈥淩elation of Academic Performance to Physical Activity and Fitness in Children,鈥 Pediatric Exercise Science, 13, pp. 225-238, 2001.
Farm to School, 鈥淔arm to School Legislation,鈥 2010.
Ludwig, D.S., Peterson, K.E., Gortmake, S.L., The Lancet 2001, 357, pp. 505-8.
Lara, M. et al., RAND, 2002.
National Association of State Boards of Education, 鈥淔it, Healthy, and Ready to Learn,鈥 2002.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 157, pp. 185-190, 2003.
Rovner, A.J, Nansel, T.R., Wang, J., Iannotti, R.J., Journal of Adolescent Health, 2010.
Samuels, C.A., 鈥淪chool-Based Health Centers Await Boost Under New Law,鈥 澳门跑狗论坛, Aug. 11, 2010.
Shah, N., 鈥淯ltimate Food Fight Erupts as Feds Recook School Lunch Rules,鈥 澳门跑狗论坛, April 6, 2011.
Shephard, R. 鈥淐urricular Physical Activity and Academic Performance,鈥 Pediatric Exercise Science, 9, pp. 113-126, 1997.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, , 2010a.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010b.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 鈥淥verweight and Obesity,鈥 2011.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 鈥淪chool Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study-II Summary of Findings,鈥 U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2001.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 鈥淭he Surgeon General鈥檚 Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity,鈥 2001.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011a.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011b.
U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2011.
U.S. General Accounting Office, 2003.

How to Cite This Article
澳门跑狗论坛 Staff. (2004, September 21). Student Health. 澳门跑狗论坛. Retrieved Month Day, Year from /leadership/student-health/2004/09

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum Big AI Questions for Schools. How They Should Respond鈥
Join this free virtual event to unpack some of the big questions around the use of AI in K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of 澳门跑狗论坛's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in Schools
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of 澳门跑狗论坛's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Spark Minds, Reignite Students & Teachers: STEM鈥檚 Role in Supporting Presence and Engagement
Is your district struggling with chronic absenteeism? Discover how STEM can reignite students' and teachers' passion for learning.
Content provided by 

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide 鈥 elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Student Well-Being What Do Schools Owe Students With Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Physicians say students with traumatic brain injuries can fall through the cracks when returning to school.
8 min read
Anjali Verma, 18, takes an online calculus class after her occupational therapy appointment at the Doylestown Library in Doylestown, Pa., on Dec. 5, 2024.
Anjali Verma, 18, takes an online calculus class after her occupational therapy appointment at the Doylestown Library in Doylestown, Pa., on Dec. 5, 2024.
Michelle Gustafson for 澳门跑狗论坛
Student Well-Being School Leaders Confront Racist Texts, Harmful Rhetoric After Divisive Election
Educators say inflammatory rhetoric from the campaign trail has made its way into schools.
7 min read
A woman looks at a hand held device on a train in New Jersey.
Black students鈥攁s young as middle schoolers鈥攈ave received racists texts invoking slavery in the wake of the presidential election. Educators say they're starting to see inflammatory campaign rhetoric make its way into classrooms.
Jenny Kane/AP
Student Well-Being Download Traumatic Brain Injuries Are More Common Than You Think. Here's What to Know
Here's how educators can make sure injured students don't fall behind as they recover.
1 min read
Illustration of a female student sitting at her desk and holding hands against her temples while swirls of pencils, papers, question marks, stars, and exclamation marks swirl around her head.
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being How Teachers Can Help LGBTQ+ Students With Post-Election Anxiety
LGBTQ+ crisis prevention hotlines have seen a spike in calls from youth and their families.
6 min read
Photo of distraught teen girl.
Preeti M / Getty