MODEL

Portrait of a Learner 4-8

Systems Change

Physical Well-being

Factor Connections

Hover to see how factors connect to Physical Well-being. Then click connected factors to explore strategies related to multiple factors.

How Physical Well-being connects to...

The benefits of physical health go beyond our bodies—our cognitive skills also improve with physical fitness and well-being. Physical Well-being involves proper nutrition, regular exercise, and quality Sleep. Students with good overall Physical Well-being benefit from improved cognitive skills, which in turn can boost academic performance. Physical Well-being, including exercise, can be especially important for those learners with ADHD as it can support cognition, mood, and focus.

Main Ideas

Physical Well-being is dependent on several important components:

  • Nutrition: Proper nutrition is an important part of Physical Well-being. Most students in the United States do not eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables, even though they are an essential component of a healthy diet and help children maintain a healthy weight. Sometimes this is due to limited access to these foods, particularly in lower SES homes.
  • Regular exercise: Increased participation in physical activities directly impacts cognitive skills, leading to enhanced academic performance. The Centers for Disease Control recommend that children ages six and up engage in physical activity for at least 60 minutes each day, most of which should be aerobic.
  • Sleep: Getting a sufficient amount of quality Sleep helps students' Physical Well-being, including their brain health. This in turn helps them learn as much as possible in the classroom and their daily lives.

Physical Well-being is also tightly intertwined with psychological well-being (see Emotion). Each can have a significant impact on the other, and this interplay ultimately defines a student's overall health. For example, stress can lead to increased levels of stress hormones, high blood pressure, obesity, and other negative effects. However, physical activity can promote wellness and academic achievement, because learners who are given the opportunity to be physically active are often more alert following exercise. This can lead to increased Attention and memory, and may boost cognitive functioning more generally. Providing movement breaks throughout the school day can help students, especially those with ADHD, focus and learn more effectively. Schools and educators can support students' Physical Well-being by providing healthy food options, opportunities for physical activity, and supporting students' emotional well-being.

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