Vol34#2_ Building an Essential Foundation: Healthy Nutrition and Lifelong Physical Activity

Healthy lifestyle-what does that mean? In our minds, it implies a lifestyle that is well-balanced in areas such as nutrition, education, physical activity, and overall wellness of the mind and body. It is fitness in more than just the physical sense. A healthy lifestyle also includes academic fitness, social fitness, and ethical fitness-so much more than just a nicely toned body that is "all muscle. " Information abounds relative to the benefits of exercise, the harms of smoking, and the advantages of a nutritious diet. These basic messages are intended to try to influence people to make more healthy choices. Indeed, the benefits of physical activity are many. However, benefits are incurred only through participation in physical activity. In other words, to gain benefits such as lower blood pressure, reducing fat, or controlling weight, one must actually participate in some form of physical activity. Physical activity can range anywhere frorri walking m__pre at work or at home, to gardening, aerobics or lifting weights. The bottom line is to be more active and to increase one's level of physical activity. The 1996 Surgeon Geucrnl's Report targeted physical activity and health (US Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 1996). According to that report, approximately 25% of adults reported no physical activity in their leisure time. Relatedly, participation in all types of physical activity was reported to decline dramatically as age or grade in school increased, and physical inactivity was more prevalent among women than men (DHHS, 1996). The problem with obesity and physical inactivity is not a problem exclusive to adults or those who live on the mainland. "It's not 'cool' to be fat, but that has not prevented an obesity epidemic from occurring among American youth" (Poussaint, 2001, p. 1). Data accrued from a locally conducted obesity study indicated that the majority of school-aged children in Hawai'i are overweight and at risk for being obese (Chai, Kaluhiokalani, Little, Hetzler, Zhang, Mikami & Ho, in review). Those statistics are incredible given the research evidence that lower mortality rates exist for those who are moderately active on a regular basis and maintain good health and nutrition practices. Healthy People 2010 (National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS], 2000) listed indicators that will be used to measure the health of the nation. Physical activity is one of those indicators. The S11rgeo11 Gerwm/'s Report 011 Pltysicn/ Activity 1111d Hen/th and Henlthy People 2010 are hvo national documents that call for a need to a build a stronger foundation of health and physical activity for all people. Both documents promote the necessity of a balanced approach to health, nutrition, and physical activity. Health, nutrition, and physical activity are as complemen· tary as socks and shoes or a well coordinated ensemble of clothing. Making healthy choices about what we put into our bodies and what we do with our bodies is an important practice that can lead to healthy habits. Modeling healthy behaviors and educating children while they are young and turning them on to being healthy and active is key. Healthy eating and physical activity help children to learn better. Physical activity may, in fact, contribute to improved academic achievement (Sallis, McKenzie, Kolody, Lewis, Marshall & Rosengard, 1999). According to Jensen (2000, 1998), movement and physical education contribute to enhanced brain function. This article will discuss the importance of a balanced foundational approach to nutrition and physical activity, physical education, and strategies to increase physical activity inside and outside of physical education.