VOA慢速英语2014 身体健康的孩子在学校的表现更好

 

Physically¹ Fit Children Do Better in School 身体健康的孩子在学校的表现更好

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 obesity², the condition of being severe overweight, also diabetes³ 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 recently. 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.

"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 cognitive⁵ studies, as well as brain imaging studies and others, show the acute effects that a bout⁴ or two of physical activity on blood profusion⁶ 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. 

1 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

2 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

3 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

4 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

5 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

6 profusion   

n.挥霍；丰富

参考例句：

• He is liberal to profusion.他挥霍无度。
• The leaves are falling in profusion.落叶纷纷。