Clearly the evidence points to the fact that students who exhibit healthy bodies and minds do better in school and will ultimately do better in life. Most programs are one-dimensional in that they only address one aspect of health. Some put the emphasis on exercise. Some put the emphasis on nutrition.

Dump the Junk takes a holistic approach in that it helps the child in three critical areas: exercise, nutrition and attitude. It’s this three-dimensional approach to whole health that makes Dump the Junk so unique and successful.

In 2004, a pilot test for Dump the Junk was conducted as an after-school program with high school students. The results were astounding. Students who participated in the 10-week program saw improvement in their grades, school attendance, and attitude in the classroom, self-esteem and body image.

Poor Health Equals Low School Performance

America’s youth are in dangerously poor health and the effects on our society can be catastrophic.

Poor health is a major contributor to lower test scores in school, increased medical costs and a
lumbering economy. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared obesity to be a national health epidemic.

Obese and overweight children are likely to suffer health consequences not only during childhood and adolescence but also throughout their adult lives. Overweight youth suffer disproportionately from chronic health conditions, experience intense social stigmatization, and have an estimated 70-80% chance of becoming obese adults.

• 16.3 percent of children and 31.9 percent of adolescents are obese and overweight
• Translation: over 12 million children and adolescents are obese and more than 23 million are either obese or overweight
• Average age of obese and overweight youth are age 2 to 19

Evidence shows that obesity is linked to poor academic performance. Over 200 published studies show links between fitness, health and learning. The foods people eat and the blood they pump into their brains and organs affect consciousness, alertness, and their ability to learn. There are also studies that link fitness and health to school attendance.

Childhood obesity is up…more kids are failing, floundering and needing help…

Educators make the Difference?

You are best equipped with the mechanisms for education, plus reinforcement of health behaviors at your disposal to address the obesity crisis. Because of the amount of time you spend in their daily lives, you are portals to accessing the community at large. The earlier you begin establishing patterns of healthy behaviorisms, the more positive is their long-term success.  

As an educator, you have the greatest impact when you teach both the youth and their parents about the benefits of nutrition, exercise and development of a positive attitude in a structured environment.