In my first blog for The Health and Performance Academy I wrote about the importance of the wider environment on our food choices. This included parents becoming role models in how their children eat, the dietary effects of the social settings we are embedded in, or decide to embed ourselves in, and the role this plays in cultural education and opinions on lifestyle. I firmly believe that schools are missing trick with regards efficiently educating students around nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.
If you have any doubts about this or feel schooling should be solely centred around archaic educational techniques, all you have to do is look at the amount of young people below the age of 18 who are overweight, inactive, vaping, smoking and/or drinking. Would the levels be so high if we had some awareness from the age of 11 onwards? I don’t think so.
The missed opportunity in schools
From working in schools in both Ireland and the U.K, I feel quite strongly about the lack of education surrounding nutrition and general lifestyle choices. This has a detrimental knock-on effect with regards health, opinions on food and the culture the child may bring with them as they get older (and potentially have a family).
I firmly believe there is place for a nutrition module, or a healthy lifestyle module in both primary and secondary schools currently. It is crucial for schools to provide comprehensive health and nutrition education to young people in order to promote healthy behaviours and reduce risk of chronic illnesses.
A critical reader will immediately think about P.E and potentially using that subject as a vehicle for educating students around health. P.E is (slowly) improving in Ireland, with the introduction of Leaving Certificate Physical Education (L.C.P.E) at the forefront of a vastly enhanced curriculum. I have first hand experience of some excellent P.E teachers, however the fact is that the P.E curriculum has not got the room nor the capacity for delivering high quality education around nutrition or health in a classroom.
It is quite frankly shocking that Ireland has one of the highest obesity rates in children in 2022, and a total of 61% of adults are deemed to be obese. I came across the following tweet recently (figure 1), which can be undoubtedly linked to the obesity epidemic that is currently tearing through Ireland. If Ireland is committing such little time to a subject that is compulsory for all students, what picture does this paint for schools and the government with relation to prioritising long-term health?
Figure 1
It is possible that some children are not receiving adequate education on nutrition and healthy lifestyles. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as limited resources or a lack of emphasis on these topics in the school curriculum. However, it is important for schools to start providing education on healthy lifestyles, as this can have a significant impact on students' overall well-being and quality of life. By educating students about healthy eating, physical activity, stress management, and other topics related to lifestyle and health, schools can help students develop the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy choices and lead healthier, longer lives. This can also help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and other health problems in the future. Unfortunately, most schools take the approach of cure rather than prevention when it comes to both physical and mental health, and by this stage, some long term, internal damage may have already occurred. Perhaps we have something to learn from the Finish education system?
Figure 2
How Can We Improve?
Research demonstrates (1) that more time spent in physical education and other school-based physical activity programmes does not negatively impact academic achievement, and regular exercise enhances academic performance through a number of processes, including improved focus and better classroom behaviour. If a module was developed and implemented within the school system, some of the following areas may be worth focusing on:
Mental health- Recognising the signs of poor mental health, seeking professional help and improving management skills
Nutrition, lifestyle and healthy eating
The importance of physical activity and potential negative sequalae associated with low levels of physical activity
Sexual health
Drug, smoking and alcohol abuse
Family life and family health
Building relationships
Conclusion
I completely understand that it is quite easy for a physical activity and health enthusiast to start calling the shots about how the curriculum needs to change to increase P.E hours and develop a new health module. I know it is not as simple as that. I also acknowledge that time in the classroom is extremely important, and the power of education should never be overlooked with regards the doors it can open. However, can we expect students to academically perform if they are struggling physically, mentally, or both? I personally feel if a long-term plan was developed, with modest yearly changes, this will begin to bear fruit regarding children’s and public health.
Schools are there to deliver efficient educational programs, so why not use them to the best of our ability?
References
Education A. Physical education, physical activity and academic performance. Active Living Research. 2007:1-4.