From: Minnesota Action for Health Kids, Fall 2011 Newsletter In the Research...

Weight Matters: Not Just How Much, but For How Long
A study posted in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine on September 5th, 2011, examined adolescents and young adults and diabetes status. 2 Using self-reported heights and weights from 1981 to 2006, their BMI, or body mass index, was calculated. Evaluated alongside self-reported diabetes status, they found that a greater amount of years with excess weight was associated with an increased risk of diabetes. For example, 40-year-old males who had twice as many years of being overweight had almost three times higher risk of developing type II diabetes. These findings shed light on the relationship between length of time a person or child is overweight and their risks for developing chronic diseases, such as type II diabetes. (Body mass index= measurement commonly used to assess
weight relative to an individuals height; kg/meters 2)

Recess Boosts Brain Power

Does all work and no play really boost a childs likelihood of academic success? New brain research is challenging this learning attitude by illustrating a very obvious association between physical activity and brain functioning. 3 Research, alongside the childhood obesity prevention campaign lead by First Lady Michelle Obama, have started a movement to bring recess back. More than an opportunity for increasing activity minutes in a childs day, recess is a time to burn off energy and super-charge brain cells, increasing concentration, participation, and positive attitudes when it comes time to hit the books. In 2010, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released study results that revealed recess positively influences grades and standardized test scores. 4 What does this all mean? Kids are meant to play! The human brain thrives when the body is moved.
Lee, J. e. (2011, September 5). Excess Body Mass Index-Years, a Measure of Degree and Duration of Excess Weight, and Risk for Incident Diabetes. Archive of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine . 3 Adams, Carlee. (2011). Recess Makes Kids Smarter. Scholastic: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3755758 4 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance. Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/pa-pe_paper.pdf

Link to research conducted with autistic Kindergarten student utilizing a standing station with pendulum footrest. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Standing-Desk-and-Visual-Scales-For-aStudent-with-Autism German Researcher Says

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/4437171.stm http://www.parenting.com/article/the-upside-of-fidgeting Focused more on ADD/ADHD http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/Exceptional%20Learners/ADD %20ADHD/Articles/Sensory%20Integration/index.html http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=29098&cn=3 http://phys.org/news162554898.html http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1889178,00.html http://www.edgefoundation.org/blog/2009/04/24/fidgeting-helps-adhd-people-stayfocused/