| Physical activity offers a broad range of | | | | solid foundation in healthy eating choices |
| benefits, including the prevention of | | | | can help lay the groundwork for improved food |
| obesity, improved self confidence, and an | | | | choices. Children who eat regular, healthy |
| overall sense of well-being. Physical | | | | meals consisting of a wide range of food |
| education programs within the school setting | | | | choices concentrate better in school and are |
| can set the stage for how children view | | | | less disruptive. Healthy eating also |
| physical fitness, activity levels, and future | | | | decreases the chances of children developing |
| health. Physical education programs also | | | | serious health problems early in life and |
| include general health and safety information | | | | reduces obesity rates among youth and into |
| in addition to providing opportunities for | | | | adulthood. |
| students to learn how to cooperate with one | | | | |
| another in a team setting. | | | | Life Skills |
| | | | |
| A Lifetime of Health | | | | Physical education also provides an |
| | | | opportunity for children to develop critical |
| The school setting provides a structured | | | | life skills, such as problem solving, |
| atmosphere in which to incorporate physical | | | | strategy, and working together. Many team |
| health activities and ideally develop healthy | | | | sports require participants to work together |
| habits for life. Studies indicate that | | | | to achieve a goal. Children also learn the |
| promotion of a healthy lifestyle taught in | | | | basics of good sportsmanship and that there |
| physical education classes can influence | | | | is much more to sports and physical |
| long-term health benefits such as reduced | | | | activities than simply winning or losing. |
| rates of obesity, heart disease, high | | | | Sports require training, mental and physical |
| cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood | | | | preparation, and help build self-confidence. |
| pressure. | | | | |
| | | | Mental Health |
| Perhaps just as importantly, physical | | | | |
| education programs can teach students that | | | | Regular physical activity has shown to have |
| physical activity can be fun. With a broad | | | | many psychological and mental benefits in |
| range of games and activities, children are | | | | addition to the physical ones. For example, |
| exposed to forms of exercise that don't | | | | regular exercise can reduce feelings of |
| simply involve running around a track. Games | | | | depression and anxiety and promote an overall |
| and other activities incorporate teamwork, | | | | sense of well-being. The increased blood flow |
| strategy, skill-building exercises, and fun. | | | | during exercise transports oxygen to all |
| | | | parts of the body, including the brain, which |
| Nutritional Information | | | | can help improve memory and reasoning skills. |
| | | | Conversely, a lack of oxygen, which can |
| Physical education classes are ideal for | | | | result from not enough deep breathing, can |
| introducing basic nutritional concepts to | | | | lead to disorientation, confusion, fatigue, |
| children. Poor eating habits are common among | | | | and memory and concentration difficulties. |
| many children and adolescents; however, a | | | | |