Do Healthy Children Learn More?
CBDHB - June 11, 2007 

The relationship between physical activity, nutrition and academic achievement in school aged children has been formally identified and supports New Zealand educators' view that healthy children are in a better position to learn.

Today "Let's Beat Diabetes" (LBD) released a University of Auckland's School of Population Health Literature Review. The report was commissioned by LBD in an effort to better understand the contribution of physical activity and nutrition to academic performance*¹. According to the report, students' health and well-being can either contribute to or undermine the ‘opportunity to learn', and therefore their ability to achieve. It is suggested an indirect link exists between physical activity, nutrition and academic achievement. This is a result of improvements in four areas namely physiological, behavioural, psychological and social well-being.  The report states that many studies investigating the effects of increasing physical activity in schools report a positive effect on students' classroom behaviour and attention, which enables students to absorb what they hear and see in the classroom. Increased physical fitness in children is also associated with higher levels of self-esteem and confidence.

Evidence also links children's nutrition to their potential for learning. Nutrition is important for cognitive development throughout childhood and adolescence, as the brain continues to develop. Deficiencies in iron, iodine and zinc are a common form of malnourishment for New Zealand children and can have an impact on potential academic achievement. It has been observed that behavioural, emotional and academic problems are more prevalent in hungry children. These findings support the work of the Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) School Accord. This is an initiative of collaboration between the CMDHB and Counties Manukau schools developed to ensure children are ‘active, healthy and ready to learn'. John Heyes, Principal of Mangere College, Chairperson of AIMHI*² and a representative on the CMDHB School Accord, says "It is good when schools have the ability to draw on academic research."

"At Mangere College, our Student Health Council has done a great deal of work empowering students so that they have the ability to make changes in their lives, the lives of their families and the wider community. One such initiative saw the Council include working closely with the tuck shop manager to improve the food selections. This literature review has given a clear indication that what we are attempting to do in the school is exactly along the right lines to not only improve student health but also improve the students' ability to learn."

Gilli Sinclair, Youth Health Project Manager at CMDHB, says "The literature review reinforces we are on the right track with partnership initiatives like AIMHI in secondary schools, which enable us to work with schools in the areas of nutrition and physical activity. The report has given an educational perspective on improving physical activity and nutrition. We can use this information, by addressing barriers to learning, to help improve educational outcomes for students."

The Literature Review is an initiative for one of the 60 different Let's Beat Diabetes projects operating in partnership with local leaders, local communities and local organisations in Counties Manukau.

For more information about Let's Beat Diabetes please contact:
Nikki Pye 021 81 4339

For all other media enquires associated with Counties Manukau District Health Board please contact Lauren Young on 027 243 9900.

*¹ One in three Counties Manukau children are currently obese or overweight. Children as young as 6 years of age and youth are now being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Obesity is a significant risk factor for diabetes. Increasing physical activity and improving nutrition are important factors in reducing obesity in our community.

*² AIMHI (Achievement in Multi Cultural High Schools) is a group of nine decile one urban secondary schools where a large proportion of the schools' student population come from Maori and Pacific Islands backgrounds.