Physically Fit Children Do Better in School
By Anna Matteo
07 October, 2014
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.
Overweight.
Out-of-shape.
Fat.
Whatever you want to call it, many studies show that children around the world are becoming less active and less physically fit. The result is an increase in obesity, the condition of being severe overweight, also diabetes and other diseases.
It is a major concern for public health officials. And it may be that fitness levels affect more than physical health. For students, it may also affect test scores.
VOA's Carol Pearson was in Redondo Beach, California, recently with more than 700 children. They were walking to school with parents and, in some cases, even their dogs. The students do this once a week. The children may not know it but they walk to help reduce childhood obesity. It is also meant to increase their activity, or fitness, level.
In this 2007 file photo, fitness expert Jose Ortiz helps train overweight boys on stationary bikes in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) |
"It's a good way to get the kids exercising in the morning."
For the kids, it's just fun.
"I like walking to school with my friends."
"One of my friend's name is Elissa. And we talk about a lot of things at school. We talk about how hard our homework is and all of the fun activities we're doing."
A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that most American children are physically unfit. But, children in other countries also face this problem.
Health officials across the world are concerned about rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in children as young as eight. This kind of diabetes is directly related to poor diet and lack of physical activity.
Kids need an hour of exercise daily
The World Health Organization advises that children between the ages of five and 17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The activity should be moderate to very energetic, or vigorous.
Studies on children and exercise show that fitness is good for more than just physical health.
A U.S. Institute of Medicine study shows that physical activity helps students with their studies. Harold Kohl led the study. He is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Texas. He researches how diseases spread among populations.
"The evidence is really emerging in the last five or six years. Both cognitive studies, as well as brain imaging studies and others, show the acute effects of a bout or two physical activity on blood perfusion in the brain. [It is] in the center that really help children learn, recall things faster, think faster and actually are more likely to achieve their full academic potential compared to children who are not physically active."
A University of Illinois study shows similar results. Professor Charles Hillman talked to VOA on Skype.
Mr. Hillman says children in his study who had physical activity on a usual basis improved in school. He also says children learn best if physical activity is included during class or before.
And that's the Health Report.
I'm Anna Matteo.
VOA's Carol Pearson reported this story. Anna Matteo wrote it for Learning English. Caty Weaver edited it.
Words in this Story
obesity - n. a condition where you have too much fat stored in the body
active - adj. (of a person) engaging or ready to engage in physically energetic pursuits.
activity - n. something that is done for pleasure and that usually involves a group of people
fitness - n. the quality or state of being fit or healthy
Now it's your turn to use these Words in This Story. In the comments section, write a sentence using one of these words and we will provide feedback on your use of vocabulary and grammar.
Physically Fit Children Do Better in School
身體健康的孩子,在學(xué)校表現(xiàn)更出色
By Anna Matteo
安娜·馬特奧
07 October, 2014
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.
來(lái)自VOA英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)網(wǎng),這是篇健康報(bào)道。
Overweight. 超重
Out-of-shape. 身材走樣
Fat. 肥胖
Whatever you want to call it, many studies show that children around the world are becoming less active and less physically fit. The result is an increase in obesity, the condition of being severe overweight, also diabetes and other diseases.
不管你怎么稱(chēng)呼肥胖,許多研究表明世界各地的孩子運(yùn)動(dòng)減少,身體健康狀況下降。結(jié)果是肥胖人群的增加,過(guò)分超重人數(shù)增長(zhǎng),糖尿病患者增多,還有其他疾病。
It is a major concern for public health officials. And it may be that fitness levels affect more than physical health. For students, it may also affect test scores.
肥胖衛(wèi)生部門(mén)官員關(guān)心的主要問(wèn)題。健康水平不只影響身體,對(duì)學(xué)生來(lái)說(shuō),也許還會(huì)影響測(cè)試成績(jī)。
VOA's Carol Pearson was in Redondo Beach, California, recently with more than 700 children. They were walking to school with parents and, in some cases, even their dogs. The students do this once a week. The children may not know it but they walk to help reduce childhood obesity. It is also meant to increase their activity, or fitness, level.
VOA的卡羅·皮爾森,在加利福尼亞州的雷東多海灘,近來(lái)跟700多名孩子一起步行,孩子和家長(zhǎng)一起步行去學(xué)校。有時(shí)候會(huì)跟他們的狗狗一起。學(xué)生每周進(jìn)行一次這樣的活動(dòng)。孩子們也許不知道,他們步行確實(shí)幫助減少孩童時(shí)期的肥胖。同時(shí),也意味著增加他們的活動(dòng)量,或者說(shuō)提升健康水平。
In this 2007 file photo, fitness expert Jose Ortiz helps train overweight boys on stationary bikes in Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) 這張2007年的照片是健身專(zhuān)家 Jose Ortiz幫助超重的男孩子在波多黎各的固定自行車(chē)上進(jìn)行訓(xùn)練。(美聯(lián)社照片/布倫南·琳斯利) |
"It's a good way to get the kids exercising in the morning."
For the kids, it's just fun.
"I like walking to school with my friends."
“這是一種讓孩子早晨鍛煉的不錯(cuò)的方式。”對(duì)孩子來(lái)說(shuō),只是覺(jué)得有趣。“我喜歡跟朋友一起步行去學(xué)校。”
"One of my friend's name is Elissa. And we talk about a lot of things at school. We talk about how hard our homework is and all of the fun activities we're doing."
“其中我的一個(gè)朋友叫艾麗莎,在學(xué)校,我們談?wù)摵芏嗍虑椋赫務(wù)撟鳂I(yè)有多難以及在學(xué)校做的有趣的活動(dòng)。”
A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that most American children are physically unfit. But, children in other countries also face this problem.
美國(guó)疾病控制和預(yù)防中心的一項(xiàng)調(diào)查研究表明:大多數(shù)美國(guó)孩子身體處于亞健康。但是,其他國(guó)家的孩子也面臨著同樣的問(wèn)題。
Health officials across the world are concerned about rising rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in children as young as eight. This kind of diabetes is directly related to poor diet and lack of physical activity.
世界各地的衛(wèi)生部官員都非常關(guān)心不斷增長(zhǎng)的肥胖率,患二型糖尿病的孩子最小年紀(jì)已低至8歲。這種糖尿病直接跟不良飲食習(xí)慣和缺乏體育活動(dòng)鍛煉有關(guān)。
Kids need an hour of exercise daily
孩子每天需要一個(gè)小時(shí)的鍛煉
The World Health Organization advises that children between the ages of five and 17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The activity should be moderate to very energetic, or vigorous.
世界衛(wèi)生組織建議5-17歲的孩子,每天需要至少60分鐘的體育活動(dòng)?;顒?dòng)應(yīng)該適中,不要做太劇烈的運(yùn)動(dòng)。
Studies on children and exercise show that fitness is good for more than just physical health.
關(guān)于孩子和運(yùn)動(dòng)的研究標(biāo)明:身體素質(zhì)良好不僅僅事關(guān)身體健康。
A U.S. Institute of Medicine study shows that physical activity helps students with their studies. Harold Kohl led the study. He is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Texas. He researches how diseases spread among populations.
美國(guó)醫(yī)學(xué)研究所的研究標(biāo)明體育活動(dòng)有助于學(xué)生的學(xué)習(xí)。哈羅德·科爾主導(dǎo)了這項(xiàng)研究,他是德克薩斯大學(xué)的流行病學(xué)的教授。他研究疾病如何在人群中傳播。
"The evidence is really emerging in the last five or six years. Both cognitive studies, as well as brain imaging studies and others, show the acute effects of a bout or two physical activity on blood perfusion in the brain. [It is] in the center that really help children learn, recall things faster, think faster and actually are more likely to achieve their full academic potential compared to children who are not physically active."
“最近的五六年里,證據(jù)確實(shí)顯現(xiàn)出來(lái)。認(rèn)知研究和腦成像研究以及其他一些研究標(biāo)明:一兩次的體育活動(dòng)會(huì)對(duì)大腦中血液灌流有重要影響。正是這個(gè)大腦活動(dòng)中心幫助孩子學(xué)習(xí),記憶更快,思維更敏捷,比那些不做體育活動(dòng)的孩子更能發(fā)揮學(xué)習(xí)潛力。”
A University of Illinois study shows similar results. Professor Charles Hillman talked to VOA on Skype.
伊利諾斯大學(xué)的研究也有類(lèi)似結(jié)果。查爾斯·赫爾曼教授在Skype 網(wǎng)絡(luò)電話(huà)上對(duì)VOA如是說(shuō)。
Mr. Hillman says children in his study who had physical activity on a usual basis improved in school. He also says children learn best if physical activity is included during class or before.
赫爾曼教授說(shuō)在他研究里,孩子平日進(jìn)行體育活動(dòng),在學(xué)校學(xué)習(xí)不斷取得進(jìn)步。他還說(shuō)如果課間或者課前孩子進(jìn)行了體育活動(dòng),在課堂上學(xué)習(xí)效果最好。
And that's the Health Report.
這是健康報(bào)道。
I'm Anna Matteo.
我是安娜·馬特奧。
VOA's Carol Pearson reported this story. Anna Matteo wrote it for Learning English. Caty Weaver edited it.
VOA的卡羅·皮爾森報(bào)道了這一新聞,安娜·馬特奧為英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)編寫(xiě),凱蒂·維弗編輯。
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