Health and Fitness
Rx for Kids: Exercise!

Students are becoming as sedentary as many adults--to their peril. But with a bit of know-how, educators can help get them moving again.

Remember when after- school fun meant running through the park, swinging through the trees, or catching a good game of softball? These days kids have traded their sneakers for joysticks and video games--and the health results are not anything to boast about.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 13 percent children ages 6 to 17 are officially overweight, and increasing numbers are suffering from Type II diabetes and a host of other obesity-related illnesses that may only worsen with age. Indeed, one recent U.S. Surgeon General's report found that overweight children have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight adults and susceptible to life threatening diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

It's not news to many educators, who every day see the impact of poor health on academic achievement. Kids who are not fit have been shown to have less energy and be more restless than healthier kids, for example. A wide-ranging study by the California Department of Education found that fit students in that state do better in math, reading, and writing and have better cognitive skills, increased concentration, and higher self-esteem than unfit students. Yet across the country, cutbacks in physical education programs have meant that one in four students get no physical education in school--and most get less than an hour a week.

What can educators do? First, say health experts, they can join the national initiative, Action for Healthy Kids, which addresses negative health trends and creates healthier schools. Last October the organization held its first Healthy Schools Summit, chaired by former Surgeon General David Satcher. The summit assembled experts from more than 30 national education and health organizations, including the NEA Health Information Network, and discussed ways to help children develop healthy lifestyles. Participants divided into state teams that meet periodically to pinpoint programs that are working. But already, many NEA members are doing their part.

• Yvonne Baicich, a P.E. teacher at Kingsford Elementary School in Mitchellville, Maryland, says she and her colleagues "heavily" promote fitness all year round and strongly urge teachers at their school to incorporate movement into their curriculum. She says it's just one way to compensate for the shortage of physical education hours required by law. "We see kids running around the green top in the middle of the day for five minutes, and it's just great," she says.
• John Dunlop, a P.E. teacher at Lake Center Elementary School in Portage, Michigan, has been using Polar® heart rate monitors to make kids more aware of cardio- vascular fitness. The monitors--which are strapped to a chest belt and send a pulse signal to a watch--have helped his kids individualize their fitness goals and exercise in their target zones. Dunlop, whose project was funded by a grant from The NEA Foundation, says kids need motivation to exercise daily--and helping them through drills and activities they like is a good start.
• Kristie Andres of Fairhope Elementary School in Fairhope, Alabama, last year formed a schoolwide running program. For every 10 miles her kids ran, Andres tracked their miles on a huge map. "As more students pushed and challenged themselves and each other, pretty soon the running became contagious," she says. This school year Andres is getting her P.E. students to pretend they are running around the country--but on the school's quarter-mile track.
• Paul Shimon, a P.E. teacher in Arkansas City, Kansas, established a Run Across America program for third, fourth, and fifth graders at Adams Elementary School. "My kids are so excited about running they come into the classroom asking, 'Are we going to to run today?'" Shimon keeps his kids going with motivational Popsicles®.

--Leah Lakins

For More: Visit the Action for Healthy Kids website at www.ActionForHealthyKids.org. Read the Surgeon General's report on obesity at www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/ and on physical activity and health at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/sgr.htm.

Road to Wellness
Depression or Just the Blues?

Depression can linger in your life without apparent reason, but understanding this illness can be an important step toward healing and recovery.

You've got a staff meeting to attend, papers to grade, bills to pay, kids to feed--and the in-laws are coming. Like many stressed out people, you wish you could stop the world and jump off. Only thing, you'd opt to never get back on. Despair, self-doubt, sadness--you're feeling it all.

If this is you, clinical depression could be the cause--just as it is for more than 18 million Americans, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. Unfortunately, most people don't realize depression is treatable, and among those who do, many often fail to seek help. That's because many depression sufferers continue to perform everyday tasks just fine--and are convinced that their "blues" is nothing to whine about.

Yet, says Vanessa Jackson, a clinical psychologist in Atlanta, those "blues" can actually be serious business. When people quietly ignore prolonged feelings of helplessness, low self-esteem, and anxiety, even thoughts of suicide, for example, a severe breakdown of mind and body can result.

How to get help? Here are some tips.

Learn the difference--the 'real' thing or just a bad day?
The key is duration. How long, honestly, has this rotten feeling lasted? Check out the following symptoms, and if you've experienced five or more for two weeks or longer, says Jackson, it's time to "get real" and get help.

• sad or anxious feelings
• oversleeping or insomnia
• weight loss or gain, appetite changes
• loss of pleasure
• suicidal thoughts
• fatigue
• restlessness and irritability
• trouble concentrating
• physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach aches that don't respond to treatment.

Don't be shy
First, check with your physician to rule out medical abnormalities, advises NEA's Mental Health Coordinator Angela Oddone. Then seek help from a therapist. And remember, says Jackson, finding one doesn't have to be intimidating or frightening.

"It's normal to have fear when deciding to visit a therapist," Jackson says. But to put yourself at ease, she suggests getting recommendations from friends or colleagues. Then, after making sure your insurance will cover the costs, call the therapist for a telephone chat or face-to-face consultation and decide if you are comfortable with him or her. Your work with the therapist is a partnership, Jackson says, and developing trust so you can be honest about your feelings is essential. "Therapy will not be useful unless you are willing to do the work," says Jackson. If seeing a therapist is too daunting, try having a talk with a spiritual leader or a trusted friend. Oftentimes simply talking through your problems can help you alleviate stress and gain a different perspective on a situation.

Know your options
If you are diagnosed with any form of depression, don't be overly quick to jump on the Prozac wagon. Some forms of depression can be treated with psychotherapy alone. If you do require anti-depressants, Jackson recommends first talking with your doctor about trying herbal or non-prescription alternatives like St. John's Wort and SAM-e. She also suggests B-12 vitamins for mild depression. However you decide to treat your depression, look at the whole picture and combine your treatment with vigorous exercise--it helps stir up those "feel-good" endorphins--nutritious foods, and a strong shoulder to lean on.

Accentuate the positive
The challenge of educating children while maintaining a stress-free and happy life can be overwhelming. A mountain of un-graded papers and yet another parent-teacher conference can be enough to knock you off-kilter. But allow yourself to be human, and do what you need to do to get through your bad day. "Get rid of the perfectionist attitude," Jackson advises. "Ask yourself what you can do to improve your life and take steps to get there." When the dust clears, find ways to relieve your stress, know your limitations, and stay realistic. Life is a winding road. But if you stay proactive, you don't have to let depression prevent you from being your best.

--Leah Lakins

Fore More: Visit www.nimh.nih.gov/ and www.neahin.org.

What's Up at HIN

Gun Safety: Get Ready
In August 2000, the NEA Representative Assembly passed a new business item that required NEA to pursue efforts to keep schools and children safe from gun violence. NEA and NEA HIN's Gun Safety Project is now aggressively working to improve gun safety and protect schools and communities while respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. This spring, NEA-HIN will provide information to members about new gun safety proposals that improve enforcement of existing gun laws and that prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands. Stay tuned. To get more information, visit www.neahin.org/gunsafety.

Cancer Screening Barriers
A recent evaluation of HIN's campaign for breast and cervical health, Project REACH, showed that even procrastinators can be motivated to get the cancer screenings recommended by the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One research finding indicated that certain attitudes and feelings (dislike, fear, embarrassment) were easier to overcome than scheduling difficulties and time constraints. To read a summary of the research results or to find out more about Project REACH, visit http://neahin.org/programs/cancerinfo/reach/index.htm.

Online Air Quality Tool kit
The EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Program has developed a new resource to complement its IAQ TfS Kit. This new resource, Indoor Air Quality Design Tools for Schools, is a Web-based guide for school personnel, parents, communities, and others who are undertaking school construction and renovation projects. The site offers recommendations on topics such as controlling moisture to prevent mold and damage to building materials and systems, renovation of existing schools, and more. To access the site, visit http://epa.gov/iaq/schooldesign.

Healthy Bites

• Brown Baggin' It
  Ready to turn tuna fish into a gourmet treat? Try a ni?oise salad or sandwich.
  Start with high-quality tuna, and prepare a boiled egg. For a salad, layer romaine or other lettuce (even fresh spinach) in a container and add the tuna. Then add freshly ground black pepper to taste and a pinch of dill. Top with sliced or grated carrots and a sliced egg. Drizzle with a little olive oil and wine vinegar, and you're good to go.
  To really round off a special lunch, add a whole grain roll. Pack with an apple or banana and biscotti, and just say "yum."
  For a sandwich, mix the tuna lightly with the olive oil, vinegar, black pepper, and dill. Layer on bread with lettuce, grated carrots, and sliced egg.
• Inspire Me
  "I belly dance at least once a week. It's a great way to stay fit and a good excuse to wear sequins!"

  Amie Hill
  Reading Support Specialist
  Evergreen Spanaway, Washington

• Good Question!
  Q: What is Pilates all about?
  A: Pilates is total body conditioning that involves more than 600 specific exercises performed on a mat or using uniquely designed equipment. The emphasis is on strengthening the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, and lower back. Intense engagement of the muscles in these areas produces improvement in posture and body shape. Because Pilates is very body-specific, classes are usually taught in one-on-one sessions or very small groups.

Talk to Us
This is part of a series designed to help NEA members develop healthy habits that beat stress and improve well-being. If you have a comment or question, e-mail mmilloy@nea.org.

Need Stress Relief?

Take a day off. Don't worry, the world will go on without you. Use your day to catch up on a book, finish a house project, watch some old movies, sleep in, or do nothing. Don't feel guilty. You deserve it.

Scream. That's right. Let your lungs release all that pent-up rage--over that driver who cut you off, that parent whose child can do no wrong, those persistent telemarketers. The scream can get some good oxygen flowing to the heart. And it might even make you laugh.

Be a kid. You work with them every day, so why not act like one now and again? Paint, draw, blow bubbles, watch a cartoon, run wild, skip--and while you're at it, learn how to play one of those video games you're always snubbing your nose at.