10/12/04 -- Poor nutrition, inactivity, and weight problems among American schoolchildren are adversely affecting academic achievement and possibly costing schools millions of dollars a year, charges Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK).
AFHK is a public-private partnership of more than 40 national organizations and government agencies, including NSBA.
According to The Learning Connection: The Value of Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity in Our Schools:
• Schools with a high percentage of students who did not routinely engage in physical activity or eat well had smaller gains in test scores than other schools.
• Well-nourished students who skip breakfast perform worse on tests and have poor concentration.
• Children not getting adequate nutrients have lower test scores, increased absenteeism, difficulty concentrating, and lower energy levels.
• Physical activity programs are linked to stronger academic achievement, increased concentration, and improved math, reading, and writing test scores.
In addition, The Learning Connection reports, students who are absent due to health problems caused by poor nutrition and physical inactivity cause schools to lose critical state dollars.
For example, in states that use attendance to help determine state funding, a single-day absence by just one student can cost a school district anywhere from $9 to $20.
If such health problems kept children out of school just one day per month, this could cost an average-size school district anywhere from $95,000 to $160,000 annually in state funds. The New York City school system would lose about $28 million each year, while Chicago could forfeit about $9 million a year.
There are also hidden costs arising from extra staff time and attention devoted to students with low academic performance or behavior problems caused by poor nutrition and physical inactivity. For example, it takes extra time and staff to administer medications needed by students with physical and emotional problems.
The report says poor nutrition, inactivity, and weight problems among school employees also lead to rising health care costs, absenteeism, and lower productivity.