The Medicine Mom By DR. Tara Kompare, Pharm. D.

Cross-Train Your Brain Daily Exercise Promotes Learning

Imagine a classroom where children bounced on giant exercise balls while learning about the adventures of Huck Finn. And where your child’s math and reading scores soared while their waistline measurements dropped. If you are a parent whose child was enrolled in the latest PE4life programs, then you have witnessed this phenomenon with your eyes wide open.
That’s right, folks. Some schools are finally catching on to the fact that daily physical education programs are not only good for the body, but also good for the mind.
Just ask one of the Naperville (Ill.) Central High School students who voluntarily enrolled in the PE4life Learning Readiness Physical Education (LRPE) class. Those kids who participated in the 7:45 a.m. LRPE class prior to starting their regular reading and math classes every day increased their reading and algebra scores by 50% and 20% respectively when compared to students without LRPE.
Why the boost in scores? According to Dr. John J. Ratey of Harvard Medical School, exercise is like Miracle-Gro for the brain. Physical activity helps increase blood flow to the brain, encourages cell growth and releases chemicals that improve mood and combat depression.
And, studies have demonstrated that physically fit children respond better in cognitive tests than children who are not physically active.

Why a daily dose of gym class?
PE4life is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to improving the health of children through the establishment of quality, daily PE programs. The focus of PE4life is on the achievement of personal goals and accomplishments rather than on competitive sports.
Phil Lawler, the PE4life director of training and outreach, believes that daily PE programs not only decrease the likelihood of childhood obesity but also increase the probability of improved academic performance.
Despite the fact that experts recommend children engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day, only six percent of America’s kids participate in daily P.E. programs. We are in the midst of a childhood obesity epidemic and our children are in dire need of assistance.

How can we keep our kids fit?
First, be a good role model. Try to keep healthy snacks readily available and incorporate exercise into your daily routine.
Also, advocate for daily PE programs in your schools. Talk to your school principals and PE teachers about the incentives of PE4life programs and express your support. You can check out the PE4life website at www.pe4life.org to find further details regarding their programs.
Based on the results of the latest PE4life studies, the establishment of daily exercise programs in schools should be a no-brainer. And, on a personal note, I believe PE4life to be next best thing to sliced bread—make that whole wheat bread and a glass of skim milk (with a little chocolate syrup.)

Childhood Obesity Facts

Children today have a shorter life expectancy than their parents for the first time in more than 100 years.

Obesity rates have more than quadrupled in the past four decades among children ages 6 to 11.

More than 33 percent of children and adolescents are overweight or obese.

The average child in America takes only 2 PE classes per week, according to the latest study by the National Institute on Child Health and Human Development.

Childhood obesity increases the risk of
-Type 2 diabetes
-High blood pressure
-Early puberty
-Sleep disorders
-Asthma and other respiratory problems
-Poor self-esteem
-Behavior and learning problems
-Depression

The author is a doctor of pharmacy. She lives in Virginia with her two amazing little girls. You can visit her website at www.themedicinemom.com. She encourages reader comments and suggestions.

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