A Canadian study suggests schools that push fitness and nutrition may also boost standardized reading and math scores.
A landmark study of 33 Ontario schools that are part of a health drive called Living Schools — where students exercise each day, play extra sports and are discouraged from eating junk food — saw overall scores climb by 18 per cent over two years in reading, writing and math, compared to about 4 per cent for similar schools not in the provincially funded program, reports the Toronto Star.
The link between fitness, nutrition and student achievement “is a wake-up call for Canadians shamed last week by a study showing children across the country spend four to six hours a day in front of a screen – landing the nation an F in physical activity,” the paper reports.
