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