from Journal of Health Economics
Increasing the amount of time that
elementary school children spent in gym
class reduces the probability of obesity.
That is the conclusion of a study in the
Journal of Health Economics from Cornell
University. An additional sixty minutes of
physical education time reduces the
probability that a fifth-grader is obese by
nearly five percent. The research offers
support for recommendations of
organizations such as the Centers for
Disease Control and American Academy of
Pediatrics, as well as the Institute of
Medicine. A separate Institute of Medicine
report suggests a Whole-of-School
approach which, in addition to targeting
physical education, includes before and
after school activities. The IOM report
went beyond the obesity goal, saying
physical activity is so central to children’s
health, since it helps children think faster
and helps them reach their academic
potential.