Research Shows Physical Activity at School improves Children’s Health

We all are creatures of habit. Most of our faults or bad habits have been bought about by events or habits picked up as a child and continued through adult life. In saying this the creation of a healthier more physical lifestyle as a child will increase your chances of continuing this through your adult life. However previous studies were inconclusive as to the benefits. Well it seems that the latest study shows what we have suspected for a while that extra physical activity during and after school improves our children’s health.     

Hopefully the education decision makers are taking notice of this study as a healthy child will have a lower body fat content, a decrease in weight related illnesses and will build good habits that will aid them through life. More fitness and dietary lessons in the school curriculum can only lead to fitter, healthier children. Here are some news articles relating to the study.  



Physical Activity in Schools Can Improve Children's Fitness

A structured physical activity program at school can improve children's fitness and decrease body fat, a study published online in the British Medical Journal shows.

Researchers in Switzerland studied 540 seven and 11-year-olds in 15 schools. Over nine months, pupils randomly allocated to an intervention group underwent a physical activity program designed by experts. This involved structuring their existing three physical education lessons and adding two extra lessons a week. They were also given daily short activity breaks and physical activity homework. Pupils randomly allocated to a control group continued to receive their existing three lessons only. Read More…

Physical activity in schools 'makes children fitter'

Increasing PE lessons in schools and giving 'exercise homework' improves children's fitness and body weight, researchers have found, after previous studies suggested it had no effect.

A study in Switzerland has found that children given more exercise time at school, in dedicated lessons and throughout the day, as well as ten minute exercise homework, were fitter and put on less weight than others.

Previous studies have suggested that children simply compensate for the extra sport at school by being more sedentary for the rest of the time. Read More…

School fitness programmes could cut obesity

Physical activity in schools can improve children’s fitness and decrease body fat, say researchers

Schools could play a vital role in cutting the rapidly growing obesity epidemic, according to researchers.

Their study suggests that a structured programme of physical activity in schools could help reverse the damage done by lack of exercise and too many hours spent watching TV or playing video games. Read More…