DOCS SAY FIT KIDS ARE NO FATHEADS

The Boston Herald
October 7, 2004
By KAY LAZAR

Physical education has taken a beating with budget crunches and a big push to boost academic performance, but increasing evidence shows fit kids learn better, says a Harvard psychiatrist.

``Physical exercise causes release of nerve growth factors in the brain,'' said Dr.
John Ratey, of Harvard Medical School.

``These are like Miracle-Gro, like fertilizer for the brain,'' Ratey said. ``It keeps nerve cells healthy and helps them to bind together, which is the basis for learning.''

Ratey was one of many who linked physical fitness to school performance during a half-day conference in Boston yesterday sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

``Overall, kids are sitting more, especially in high school,'' said Denise Makein, physical education coordinator for Duxbury's public schools.

Makein said the push to boost MCAS scores has relegated physical education ``further down the food chain.'' She said she often hears ``phys ed is not going to get my kid into college,'' from parents whose kids opt out of physical education.

About 10 percent of Massachusetts teens are overweight, with an additional 14 percent at risk of becoming overweight, according to data by the state Department of Public Health presented at the conference.

``We need to think creatively and effectively about what works for kids,'' said DPH Commissioner Christine Ferguson.

Ferguson, who has struggled with obesity as an adult and recently lost 100 pounds, said experts designing fitness programs for kids need to remember many are embarrassed by their weight.

Ferguson said a typical overweight child grasps the immediate gratification of an Oreo cookie better than the promise of better fitness after six weeks - if they adhere to a program.

``We need to understand this is more than giving them information,'' Ferguson said.``It's about giving them hope.''