The School Wellness Conference was held October 6 and 7 in Anaheim, CA. Dr. John Ratey, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, was a featured speaker. He explained how brain-derived neurotophic factor, or BDNF, promotes the growth of new brain cells, allowing the brain to grow and learn better.

What increases BDNF levels in the brain? Exercise, of course. The average adult sits in front of some sort of screen 9.5 hours per day and children are spending 5.5 hours a day, leaving limited time for physical activity. Emerging research shows that physical activity sparks biological changes that encourage brain cells to bind to one another. For the brain to learn, these connections must be made. The more neuroscientists discover about this process, the clearer it becomes that exercise creates an environment in which the brain is ready, willing and able to learn. 

Naperville Central High School in Chicago implemented a program called Zero Hour PE. The objective of the program was to determine whether working out before school gives students a boost in reading ability and increased skills in additional subjects. Students were taught how to monitor and maintain their own health and fitness. Results indicate that learning was enhanced when preceded by exercise. Students involved in the program demonstrated a 17 percent improvement in reading and comprehension.

The benefits of physical activity are extremely valuable for both children and adults. Our bodies are designed to be active, which leads to optimum brain development. The handout, Child's Play: The Foundation of Good Health, is written for teachers, school administrators and parents. It describes the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and includes actionable ideas to include more physical activity at school.

Thank you for reading this blog—now it’s time to get moving!

Sarah Mathot, M.S., R.D.

Schools Supervisor, Southern California