Better Health, Better Learning Report - July 2017 SCORE Better Health Better Learning Report_July 20 | Page 6

Student Health And
Academic Achievement
Volumes of research have identified the strong relationship between students’ overall
well-being and their academic achievement. Many factors in a student’s everyday
environment affect his or her health, just as they affect academic achievement.
Recognizing the role of home environment, school conditions, and access to high-
quality nutrition and health care, this section provides a brief overview of research
findings on the strength of the connections between student health and academic
performance.
Physical activity, nutrition, and overall
DEFINING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
well-being can have a profound effect on
student achievement. One study found an
association with academic performance
The World Health Organization
across a variety of indicators of dietary
encourages a broad conception of health
quality, adequacy, and variety. 11
and well-being. Therefore, the WHO’s
Overall, students who are physically
Constitution defines health as “a state
active tend to have better grades, school
of complete physical, mental and social
attendance, cognitive performance
well-being and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity.” This brief reflects
(e.g., memory), and classroom behavior.
the WHO’s broad concept of addressing
Researchers have found participation in
physical, mental, and social needs.
extracurricular physical activities such as
interscholastic sports can lead to higher
grade point averages, lower dropout
rates, and fewer disciplinary problems
among students. 12 In 2013, the Journal of School Health published findings of a team
led by a University of Tennessee kinesiologist showing a strong relationship between
muscular strength and endurance and academic achievement in all studied grades. 13
Researchers also have found that elementary students in Georgia who participated
in an exercise program had higher math achievement and longer attention spans
than students who were not in an exercise program. Compared to students who did
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