1. AFHK Special Reports www.actionforhealthykids.org

2. The Learning Connection www.actionforhealthykids.org Documents how the excessive rise in poor nutrition, inactivity and weight problems adversely affects academic achievement and possibly costs schools millions of dollars

3. Impact on Learning www.actionforhealthykids.org Schools with high percentages of students who did not routinely engage in physical activity or eat well had smaller gains in test scores than other schools

4. Impact on Learning www.actionforhealthykids.org Many studies show a direct link between nutritional intake and academic performance

5. Impact on Learning www.actionforhealthykids.org Many studies also show a direct link between physical activity and academic performance

6. Impact on Learning www.actionforhealthykids.org Other recent studies found a significant relationship between academic achievement and fitness levels

7. Impact on Learning www.actionforhealthykids.org Emerging research suggests an association between weight problems and lower academic achievement

8. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Potential reduction in funding in states where attendance helps determine the level of state funding for schools

9. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Severely overweight children miss on average one day of school per month for a total of nine days per year

10. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Potential loss of state aid per year for an average district in: Texas $95,000

11. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Potential loss of state aid per year for an average district in: California $160,000

12. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Loss in big cities can be much higher: Chicago $9,000,000

13. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Loss in big cities can be much higher: Los Angeles $15,000,000

14. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Loss in big cities can be much higher: New York City $28,000,000

15. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Significant indirect costs in helping students whose academic performance and/or behavior suffers

16. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Staff time for remediation and/or medication administration for children with related physical and emotional issues

17. Economic Costs for Schools www.actionforhealthykids.org Faculty and staff consequences include increases in health premiums, higher absenteeism, and lower productivity

18. HEALTHY SCHOOLS SUMMIT: TAKING ACTION FOR CHILDREN’S NUTRITION & FITNESS www.actionforhealthykids.org

19. Child Nutrition Act reauthorized during 2004 Requires wellness policies in all schools by beginning of 2006-07 school year

20. Recommendations to Prevent and Control Overweight and Obesity  NECON work groups  Yaffe Foundation  Schools work group included education and health professionals  Proposed evidence-based recommendations www.neconinfo.org

21. Recommendations to Prevent and Control Overweight and Obesity  National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity  Over 250 national, state and local organizations  Development group included education and health professionals www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org

22. Tools to Assist Schools CDC School Health Index www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/shi/

23. Tools to Assist Schools USDA Changing the Scene and Team Nutrition www.fns.usda.gov/tn/resources/changing

24. Tools to Assist Schools National Association of State Boards of Education www.nasbe.org/healthyschools/fithealthy

25. So, what does all this mean?

26. Nutrition and physical activity issues are important for kids, their families, their future success, and their length and quality of life. And, they are critical to our nation. And, they are critical to our nation.

27. Healthy kids make better students, and better students make healthy communities. CCSSO and ASTHO, School Health Starter Kit, 1999.

28. Thank you for your interest! William (Bill) Potts-Datema Director, Partnerships for Children’s Health Harvard School of Public Health wpottsda@hsph.harvard.edu 617-432-1358 (office)