From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语健康报道。
Overweight.
超重。
Out-of-shape.
体型走样。
Fat.
肥胖。
Whatever you want to call it, many studies show that children around the world are becoming less active and less physically fit. The result is an increase in obesity, the condition of being severe overweight, also diabetes and other diseases.
不管你想怎么称呼它，许多研究表明，世界各地的孩子正变得愈加缺乏活力，体质也更差。其结果就是肥胖症增加。肥胖症是指严重超重，并患有糖尿病以及其它疾病。
It is a major concern for public health officials. And it may be that fitness levels affect more than physical health. For students, it may also affect test scores.
它是公共卫生官员关注的焦点。健身水平可能不止会影响身体健康。对学生来说，它可能还会影响考试成绩。
VOA's Carol Pearson was in Redondo Beach, California, recently with more than 700 children. They were walking to school with parents and, in some cases, even their dogs. The students do this once a week. The children may not know it but they walk to help reduce childhood obesity. It is also meant to increase their activity, or fitness, level.
美国之音的卡罗尔·皮尔森（Carol Pearson）最近在加州雷东多比奇市同700多名孩子在一起。这些孩子同家长甚至是他们的狗一起步行上学。这些学生们每周步行一次。他们可能并不知道原因，但他们步行有助于减少儿童肥胖，同时还意味着增加他们的活动量或健身水平。
"It's a good way to get the kids exercising in the morning."
“这是让孩子们在早上运动的好办法。”
For the kids, it's just fun.
对孩子们来说这只是好玩。
"I like walking to school with my friends."
“我喜欢同我的朋友一起步行上学。”
"One of my friend's name is Elissa. And we talk about a lot of things at school. We talk about how hard our homework is and all of the fun activities we're doing."
“我的一个朋友叫艾丽莎。我们谈到了很多学校的事情。我们谈到了我们功课有多难，也谈到了我们做的所有娱乐活动。”
A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that most American children are physically unfit. But, children in other countries also face this problem.
来自美国疾病控制预防中心的一项研究表明，大多数美国孩子体格欠佳。但其它国家的孩子也面临着这种问题。
Health officials across the world are concerned about rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in children as young as eight. This kind of diabetes is directly related to poor diet and lack of physical activity.
世界各地的卫生官员都对年仅八岁的儿童的肥胖率和2型糖尿病不断上升非常担忧。这类糖尿病同不良饮食习惯以及缺乏体育锻炼直接相关。
Kids need an hour of exercise daily
孩子们每天需要运动一小时
The World Health Organization advises that children between the ages of five and 17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The activity should be moderate to very energetic, or vigorous.
世界卫生组织建议，5到17岁的孩子每天至少要进行60分钟的体育锻炼。这类活动应该从适中到剧烈。
Studies on children and exercise show that fitness is good for more than just physical health.
对儿童和运动的研究表明，健身不仅仅有利于身体健康。
A U.S. Institute of Medicine study shows that physical activity helps students with their studies. Harold Kohl led the study. He is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Texas. He researches how diseases spread among populations.
美国一家医学研究所的研究表明，体育锻炼有助于学生们的学业。哈罗德·科尔（Harold Kohl）领导了这项研究。他是得克萨斯大学一位流行病学教授。他研究疾病如何在人群中传播。
"The evidence is really emerging in the last five or six years. Both cognitive studies, as well as brain imaging studies and others, show the acute effects of a bout or two physical activity on blood profusion in the brain. [It is] in the center that really help children learn, recall things faster, think faster and actually are more likely to achieve their full academic potential compared to children who are not physically active."
“过去五到六年证据正在逐渐浮现。认知研究和脑成像研究等都显示了一两种体育运动对大脑血流灌注的急性影响。它有助于孩子们学习，更快回想，更快思考。与不怎么进行体育锻炼的孩子相比，实际上他们更容易实现其全部学术潜能。”
A University of Illinois study shows similar results. Professor Charles Hillman talked to VOA on Skype.
伊利诺伊大学的一项研究也展现出了类似的研究成果。查尔斯·希尔曼（Charles Hillman）通过Skype同美国之音进行了交流。
Mr. Hillman says children in his study who had physical activity on a usual basis improved in school. He also says children learn best if physical activity is included during class or before.
希尔曼先生表示，在他的研究中，平时进行体育锻炼的孩子在学校有所提高。他还表示，如果在课前或上课期间进行体育锻炼，孩子们学得最好。
And that's the Health Report.
以上就是本期健康报道的全部内容。
I'm Anna Matteo.
我是安娜·马特奥（Anna Matteo）。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)