[ti:Physically Fit Children Do Better in School] [ar:Anna Matteo] [al:Health Report] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report. [00:04.85]Overweight. [00:07.03]Out-of-shape. [00:09.14]Fat. [00:10.98]Whatever you want to call it, [00:13.78]many studies show that children around the world [00:18.32]are becoming less active [00:20.72]and less physically fit. [00:22.98]The result is an increase in obesity, [00:27.55]the condition of being severe overweight, [00:30.89]also diabetes and other diseases. [00:35.60]It is a major concern for public health officials. [00:40.55]And it may be that fitness levels [00:44.16]affect more than physical health. [00:47.84]For students, it may also affect test scores. [00:53.54]VOA's Carol Pearson was in Redondo Beach, California, recently [01:00.70]with more than 700 children. [01:04.92]They were walking to school with parents and, [01:08.55]in some cases, even their dogs. [01:10.77]The students do this once a week. [01:14.46]The children may not know it [01:18.11]but they walk to help reduce childhood obesity. [01:21.54]It is also meant to increase their activity, [01:25.40]or fitness, level. [01:26.87]"It's a good way [01:28.99]to get the kids exercising in the morning." [01:32.54]For the kids, it's just fun. [01:35.08]"I like walking to school with my friends." [01:38.65]"One of my friend's name is Elissa. [01:40.79]And we talk about a lot of things at school. [01:43.51]We talk about how hard our homework is [01:45.58]and all of the fun activities we're doing." [01:48.78]A study from the U.S. Centers [01:50.76]for Disease Control and Prevention [01:52.93]shows that most American children [01:55.78]are physically unfit. [01:58.10]But, children in other countries also face this problem. [02:03.77]Health officials across the world [02:06.75]are concerned about rising rates of obesity [02:10.87]and type 2 diabetes in children as young as eight. [02:16.48]This type of diabetes is directly related to poor diet [02:22.86]and lack of physical activity. [02:25.93]The World Health Organization advises [02:30.03]that children between the ages of five [02:33.27]and 17 get at least 60 minutes [02:37.26]of physical activity every day. [02:39.83]The activity should be moderate [02:43.00]to very energetic, or vigorous. [02:45.91]Studies on children and exercise show [02:50.38]that fitness is good for more [02:53.08]than just physical health. [02:54.89]A U.S. Institute of Medicine study shows [02:59.45]that physical activity helps students with their studies. [03:03.70]Harold Kohl led the study. [03:06.67]He is a professor of epidemiology [03:10.39]at the University of Texas. [03:12.62]He researches how diseases spread among populations. [03:17.96]"The evidence is really emerging [03:20.54]in the last five or six years. [03:22.15]Both cognitive studies, [03:23.68]as well as brain imaging studies and others, [03:25.53]show the acute effects of [03:28.13]a bout or two physical activity [03:30.39]on blood perfusion in the brain. [03:32.52][It is] in the center that really help children learn, [03:35.15]recall things faster, [03:37.07]think faster and actually [03:38.79]are more likely to achieve their full academic potential [03:42.02]compared to children who are not physically active." [03:44.91]A University of Illinois study shows similar results. [03:49.20]Professor Charles Hillman talked to VOA on Skype. [03:54.47]Mr. Hillman says children in his study [04:05.10]who had physical activity [04:07.56]on a usual basis improved in school. [04:10.95]He also says children learn best [04:14.96]if physical activity is included during class time or before. [04:20.94]And that's the Health Report. [04:24.63]I'm Anna Matteo.