First, let me provide a number of statistics about student health. 21% of American Adolescents are overweight (1). 50% of 12-21 year olds lack an ample amount of physical activity (1). Of this fifty percent, black women account for twenty-one percent and white women account for twelve percent... Only 23.9 % of students report having 5 servings of fruit and or vegetables a day (2) each day of the week. Only 18% of students get 3 or more servings of milk a day. Anther disturbing statistic is that African American females from ages 12-19 suffer from iron deficiency. According to the article Adolescent Nutrition, iron deficiency can result in fatigue, shorter attention span and increase the probabil8yt of getting an infection, and impair cognitive performance.
             Statistics also show alarming information about eating habits of adolescent females. Females reported fasting, vomiting, and or taking laxative to lose or control weight. 12.6 % of surveyed females admitted not eating for more than 24 hours to avoid gaining weight. 7.6 % have taken diet pills, powders or liquids to lose weight. 4.8 % took laxatives and or vomited to lose weight and or avoid gaining weight.
             What do all the statistics from the Center on Poverty & Nutrition mean to the classroom? Research shows that undernourished student have low energy levels, have difficulty concentrating on tasks, and can be irritable. In addition, like discussed with iron deficiency, undernourished children are prone to attraction illness, which will result in students missing school and falling behind. Skipping breakfast has shown to hinder academic performance and problem solving.
             Undernourishment and avoiding eating are not the only disorders plaguing our schools. Obesity has become a national epidemic. The number of obese children has doubles between 1980 and 1999, and went from 3%-14% in adolescent teens. "Adolescent Nutrition..." attributes these huge jumps to genetic...