April 2017
Volume 2, Issue 1
Journal of Holistic Health
It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver…
~Mahatma Gandhi~
Tai Chi for Mental Health
By Gary Chen ‘18 & Alexandria Couto ‘18
To most people Tai Chi is a martial art, but it is also one of the most well-known methods
of alternative medicine for healing the mind; especially for those that suffer from depression and
other mental illnesses (Wang, F., 2014). Tai Chi is a low impact form of exercise therapy that is
meditative in nature (Wang, Y., 2004). It consists of mental concentration, physical balance, muscle
relaxation, and relaxed breathing along with slow dance-like movements (Wang, F., 2014). The
calming nature of this practice greatly supports positive improvements in markers of stress. The
practice of Tai Chi is not only physically beneficial but also mentally beneficial (Harvard Health,
2017). Mental health issues are addressed through a variety of treatments and combined therapies;
participating in Tai Chi is a mind/body therapy that has also shown promise.
According to a research study that involved Tai Chi as the intervention among college
students, Yong Wang (2004) found improvements in overall vitality, emotional functioning, and the
mental health of the participants. During this study, the individuals performed Tai Chi for one hour
a day for four days a week for a period of three months.
Individuals who participate in a Tai Chi program are likely to have reductions in depression symptoms and experience depression remission (Woods, 2015). Tai Chi gives patients with
depression the ability to use the power of the mind to get well (Woods, 2015). Helen Lavretsky and
her colleagues conducted an investigation with Tai Chi involving 112 individuals at the age of 60 or
older who were diagnosed with major depression (Woods, 2015). The goal was to examine if the
antidepressant (escitalopram) combined with Tai Chi would decrease an individual's depression
symptoms. The participants were split into two groups; the experimental group was given 10 mg of
escitalopram and participated in a Tai Chi class for two hours a week and the control group was
given 10 mg of escitalopram and participated in a health educational class for two hours a week.
Within the 16 week investigation the researchers measured the variables of depression, anxiety, resilience, healthy-related quality of life, cognition and inflammation. Those who participated in Tai
Chi improved physical functioning and cognitive functioning (Woods, 2015). The results of the
study also indicated that Tai Chi helped to reduce depression with prescription drugs compared to
prescription drugs alone (Woods, 2015).
Tai Chi is known for its calming effects on the mind, which is especially beneficial for
people with disorders such as depression and anxiety (Wang, C., 2010). Tai Chi practitioners showed
a decrease in salivary cortisol concentration (Lan, 2013); cortisol is a stress hormone that is the primary hormone responsible for the stress response (Randall, 2011). Cortisol hormones suppress the
immune system and other inflammatory pathways, and constant cortisol exposure is associated with
chronic stress or depression (Randall, M., 2011). People who suffer from depression or anxiety are
often prescribed a drug to help decrease their symptoms; however, in some patients Tai Chi has been
used as an alternative therapy to drug treatment and the results were similar to that of drug-treated
patients (Wang, D., 2014); some research has demonstrated that Tai Chi was as effective as Zoloft
when treating patients with major depressive disorders (Abbott, 2014). In addition, Tai Chi has
shown improvements in mood states in a randomized trial (Jin, 1992) that involved a 16-week Tai
Chi. The intervention effectively reduced mood disturbance and improved general mood in women
suffering from depression (Lan, 2013). Similarly, reports of improved mood state, reduction in anxiety, anger-tension, and perceived stress occurred in a 12-week Tai Chi program (Lan, 2013). In conclusion, mindful exercise does not only benefit your physical well-being, but may have an equal or
even greater impact on your mental and emotional well-being. In may be advisable to include Tai
Chi as an alternative therapy when working with patients who are suffering from emotional or mental disorders.
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Inside this issue:
Tai Chi .................................. 1
Business and Health............ 2
Military ................................ 3
Physical Therapy ................. 4
Religion & Spirituality ......... 5
Criminal Justice ................... 6
Education ............................. 7
Special points of interest
 Physical activity and managing
depression
 The economic impact of poor
health
 Alternative therapies and the
improvement of health outcomes

Spiritual leaders and meditation
Improving Your Health Improves Your Profits!
By Li Adorno ‘17, Santiago Mateus ‘18, & Derlens Pierre ‘17
In today’s society where many employees struggle with the routine work day which consists of the stress and the demands of the
workplace, huge corporations such as Google and Amazon have
taken different steps in ensuring employee satisfaction, productivity, reducing stress and increasing creativity. Corporations are
integrating alternative approaches to enhance well-being, reduce
healthcare cost, and to increase productivity for their work force.
These approaches range from corporate cafes to fitness rooms.
Many workers in today’s society dread their work environments
thus rendering their performance less than optimal. This is a big
issue with many companies impacted by poor on the job performance, high absenteeism and less dedication from their employees.
Larry page, co-founder of Google, insists that happy employees
would create a better work environment thus improving their
overall productivity. This ideology is the driving factor behind
Google's mission. This is evident by actions that Google has taken to increase employee satisfaction by incorporating cafes, fitness centers, and meditation rooms into their workplace. These
additions to the business environment are focused on encouraging interactions between employees in different work teams,
providing a positive environment in which to work, and overall
creating an environment of work and fun.
Mark Bertolini, chief executive of the health insurer Aetna says
that companies that provide wellness programs for employees
have demonstrated improvements in time management. In addition, statistics from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reveal
that “Employees who scored low on “life satisfaction” stayed
home from work 1.25 more days per month than those with higher scores, adding up to about 15 additional days off per
year” (p15, USCC). Aetna revealed their workers with high levels of stress were costing the company $2,000 more each year
than those with moderate stress levels. As a result, in
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2012, Aetna reduced its employee health benefits costs by 7% by
creating a program promoting the benefits of yoga and meditation at work. The program resulted in improvements in productivity and after several weeks of physical activity they noticed
positive changes in everyday life activities. Aetna promotes a
tobacco free workplace and encourages exercise to lower the cost
that health care each year for lifestyle behaviors associated with
poor quality of life. Companies, like Google and Aetna have determined that promoting daily physical activity and healthy living
through work-site programming can increase productivity and
reduce health care costs.
Currently, Google is focusing on Google fit which is a mobile
app designed for the android platform that links with other health
apps like Nike+, allocating health information for its users.
Those at Google understand that a healthy working environment
results in a more creative and productive environment and their
philosophy reflects this understanding which is to, “to create the
most happiest and productive workplace in the world” (Stewart,
2013). In an interview with the New York Times, a spokesperson
said that Google lets its engineers build their workspace to their
liking which sometimes requires pushing the boundaries of a
common workplace. Google has incorporated free food courts for
their employees with various choices in food, snacks, and drinks.
However, they also say that the healthy food is always front loaded since Google takes the health of their employees seriously and
because their research shows that these healthy choices support
better decision making. Big companies like Google are pioneers
and innovators and may be paving a path for other companies to
follow, emphasizing that employee’s health and well-being is a
priority, which in turn optimizes their work output and reduces
their health care costs. It is a win for all.
Alternative Therapy Methods in the Military
By Michael DeCastro ‘18 & Jesse Leon ‘18
United States military operatives in Iraq and Afghanistan have been involved in the first sustained ground combat troops since
the war in Vietnam (Hoge, 2004). Evidently, combat has given rise to detrimental psychological effects including but not limited to Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and impairment to social functioning (Hoge, 2004). Research suggests that deployment stressors and exposure to the “front-lines” are considerable issues that have proven to be detrimental to the psychological health of
our troops. Mental disorders have become a serious problem for our troops both active and retired, especially those suffering from PTSD.
There are a numerous methods utilized to treat these issues including prolonged exposure therapy and transcendental meditation.
A form of post combat treatment known as prolonged exposure therapy is a type of therapy used with people who suffer from PTSD. According to Tuerk (2010) a high volume of patients suffer from PTSD which may involve the suppression of memories and traumatic
events of the past in order to survive. By repressing these memories patients tend to manifest their trauma in different forms which may
include projecting their bad memories on the people around them. In prolonged exposure therapy, the act of revisiting the moment they
experienced trauma helps the person work through that traumatic moment in a safe and monitored environment. Meditation may be a useful tool that directs the mind into a state of acceptance and peace while managing the current reality. Meditation according to Tuerk has
been productive in helping war veterans process traumatic events, especially with those combating PTSD. Through a well guided method
of meditation practitioners set the foundation for veterans to heal, augmenting the recovery process that includes stabilizing healthy relationship with friends and family (Tuerk). A study was done on the effect of transcendental meditation and its effects on veterans returning
from combat. In the study five veterans were trained in transcendental meditation and then followed for 12 weeks. After the 12 weeks all
five veterans reported improvements in several measurements taken : Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction, the Clinician Administered PTSD scale, and the PTSD checklist military Version (Rosenthal, 2011). Patients that underwent transcendental meditation reported
feeling calmer, less stressed, and less anxious. Overall, the five veterans that completed the study had a their quality of life improved and
reported having better relationships with their family and other people with whom they interacted on a daily basis.
There are many stressors that are responsible for the emotionally-related trauma in the military. Depression is one of the leading
mental disorders from which soldiers suffer (Charles, 2008). Many times soldiers don’t seek help to treat their depression because it has
been stigmatized as a sign of weakness. Veterans participated in a mindfulness based stress reduction program to aid with depression and
PTSD. The veterans who underwent this program saw significant improvements with managing their depression and learned to process
other mental difficulties that are triggered by memories of trauma (Kearny, 2011). Veterans who have suffered both visible and invisible
injuries can use the mindfulness based stress reduction program to improve the quality of their daily lives.
According to recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, there is an association between violent combat
experiences and future feelings of aggression being triggered from unrelated experiences (Hoge, 2004). Studies reveal that the effects of
combat on mental health may become evident in veterans years after their military service has ended. An investigation according to Hoge
(2004) states that ground-combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan resulted in military personnel being exposed to especially stressful
experiences; these experiences included very high levels of combat stress that have lasting effects. The data suggest that
ninety percent of soldiers experience one or more of the following traumatic events while serving : taking fire, attending to those bodies
killed in action, knowing someone (perhaps a fellow comrade) who was brutally injured or killed, or having to engage in killing enemy
combatants. The trauma that soldiers face needs be managed on an ongoing bases and in as many ways as possible. Including alternative
therapy approaches to healing and stress management is recommended based on the scientific literature.
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The Mutual Benefits of
Physical Therapy and Alternative Medicine
By Kurt Espiritu ’17 & Kevin Soriano ‘17
Physical therapy has grown immensely as a profession over the last few decades with predictions of 34% growth the job
market from 2014 to 2024 (U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). Physical therapy deals with injury recovery, pain management
and overall health, with the overarching goal of improving quality of life. The greater demand for physical therapists may be in part
due to the number of baby boomers, which includes the seventy-two million American citizens born between 1946 to 1964. In
2017, baby boomers are now between the ages of fifty-three and seventy-one. Unfortunately, the data suggests that many of the
baby boomers are overweight or obese, which places them at a higher risk for chronic disease. Boomers have an average of two
medical conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Seven out of ten baby boomers are physically active, but
every year, over two million baby boomers go to the hospital for “over-exercising” (American Physical Therapy Association,
2016). Exercising is great for one’s health; however, especially with aging, it is necessary to allow time for repair and recovery. A
person may become anxious, exhausted, depressed, and injured from over-exertion on a regular basis. Over exercising, obesity, and
overweight among Baby Boomers are just some of the causes among one cohort that brings thousands of people to the physical
therapist every year. Alternative therapies are often used in coordination with traditional physical therapy methods as a supplement
to conventional therapy to help spur the recovery process.
To assist with the healing process , acupressure is one of the alternative therapies being used in conjunction with physical
therapy (Smith, 2013). Acupressure is a traditional Chinese method similar to acupuncture, but it does not require the use of needles. Instead, practitioners use their fingers, palms, elbows, or special devices to massage certain parts of the body. Acupressure
promotes wellness and relaxation through specific, localized pressure points. A randomized controlled trial conducted on post
chemotherapy patients who experienced severe fatigue, showed that acupressure can significantly help in combating general, activity based, and physical fatigue (Molassiotis, Sylt, Diggins, 2007). The most commonly used form of acupressure is Tui Na Chinese
massage. This method of acupressure incorporates full body stretches for the patient and specific hand movements done by the therapist. The hand movements include gliding, kneading, pulling, tapping and rolling to stimulate the various acupoints of the body.
Reiki is another form of healing that primarily uses the palms of the hands to stimulate life energy. The difference between Reiki
and Tui Na, is that Reiki promotes self-healing, blocks pain, and removes emotional issues as reported in some of the scientific literature (Acupressure, 2017).
Alternative acupressure was a focus of a study that was conducted to examine the effects of an acupressure program on stroke patients. The goal was to see how acupressure affected the recovery of motor function and daily activities in stroke patients. Seventyeight stroke patients were chosen for this study, with thirty-nine patients undergoing the traditional physical therapy, while the other half of the group did the traditional physical therapy as well as the acupressure. The post-test data showed a significantly positive
increase in motor skills and in activities of daily living. As a result of these findings, healthcare providers may want to consider
alternative medicine for stroke patients (Yue, Jiang, Wong, 2013).
Other than acupressure and acupuncture, there is another popular alternative therapy called spinal manipulation that can be found in
both Western and traditional Asian medicine. Spinal manipulation, also known as manual therapy, is a treatment in which the practitioner uses controlled force to move a joint beyond its normal range of motion to relieve pain and improve function. Unlike other
therapies, the practitioner gives a rapid thrust in order to achieve a gapping and subsequent cavitation of the target joint. Joint cavitation is accompanied by an audible release recognized as a “cracking” sound. Lower back pain affects about one out of four adults.
Spinal manipulation is primarily used to treat one’s neck, back, shoulder, and head. It can also be used to treat disorders such as
menstrual pain and sinus problems.
There are a number of studies that demonstrate the efficacy of spinal manipulation. In a randomized, controlled trial conducted by
Assendelft, Morton , Yu , Suttorp, and Shekelle (2004), they evaluated spinal manipulative therapy for patients with low-back pain,
having at least one day of follow-up, and at least one available, clinically-relevant outcome measure. The study found that spinal
manipulation is slightly to moderately superior to a placebo treatment for short-term pain relief for acute lower back pain. In another study conducted by Hoving and colleagues (2002), one-hundred-eighty-three patients between the ages of eighteen and seventy,
who had had nonspecific neck pain for at least two weeks underwent six weeks of treatment in one of three groups. The three
groups, treated twice per week were spinal manipulation, physical therapy and continued care by a physician. After six weeks, the
success rates were 68.3% for spinal manipulation, 50.8% for physical therapy, and 35.9% for continued care. In daily practice, spinal manipulation therapy is a favorable treatment option for patients with neck pain when compared to physical therapy or continued care by a general practitioner.
With the seventy-two million “baby boomers” getting older, the demand for physical therapists is very high. As mentioned, many
of the baby boomers are obese or overweight and may suffer from one or more obesity-related diseases. To help the baby boomers
live longer and healthier lives, physical therapists can treat their patients when they are recovering from injuries, managing pain,
and in order to prevent injuries and improve the patient’s overall quality of life. Alternative therapies, such as acupressure and spinal manipulation, may be used within physical therapy as a supplement to conventional therapy, to enhance healing.
The need for physical therapists is increasing. Not all cases of an ailment or disorder are the same, so there is a rising need
for alternative therapies in treatment. Acupressure and spinal manipulation are some alternative therapies that could be used more
frequently in the physical therapy environment. Unfortunately, not all CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) treatments
have been studied well enough to know whether or not they're safe or effective, so further study into CAM and its association with
physical therapy treatments is needed to provide a clearer picture and inform evidence-based practices.
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Religion and Spirituality
By Jacqueline Anderson ‘18 & Deborah Myrtil ‘17
For many people religious and spiritual activities provide comfort in the face of illness (Sloan, Bagiella, & Powell 1999). Spirituality and religious faith are practices that optimize health, increase life expectancy, and manage stress. It
has been demonstrated through epidemiological research, that those who have a faith practice live longer and have an
overall enhanced quality of life. In a recent poll of 1000 US adults, 79% of the respondents believed that spiritual faith
can help people recover from disease and 63% believed that physicians should talk to patients about spiritual faith (Sloan,
Bagiella, & Powell, 1999). There is documentation in the research literature that spirituality can help patients in the process of illness recovery by facilitating their autonomy and assisting them to live and grow beyond the limitations imposed
by their illness (Tin, Lo, Wong, Lai, Yu, & Hai, (2016). From epidemiological studies with centenarians faith-based living can be associated with longevity. In addition, spiritual leaders such as the Dali Lama and Desmond Tutu expand on
the relationship between improved quality of life and spiritual practices in their publication The Book of Joy.
The research and studies of the Blue zones perfectly supports the idea of holistic health. The Blue Zones research identified the areas in the world in which there are high percentages of centenarians; the locations with the highest number of
centenarians were subsequently dubbed the Blue Zones. The data from this research identify nine common factors that
support a long lifespan, among them are: a plant-based diet, low-intensity activity, an investment in family, a sense of
faith; and a purpose-filled life ( Mishra, 2009). The Blue zones were identified in 5 locations 1) The Italian island of Sardinia 2) Okinawa, Japan; 3) Loma Linda, California 4) Costa Rica's isolated Nicoya Peninsula 5) Ikaria which is an isolated Greek island. The only Blue Zone that was identified in the U. S. was that of Loma Linda California. The majority of
the population there is Seventh Day Adventist and practice a certain dietary regime consuming a vegan diet of leafy
greens, nuts, and legumes, along with strictly no drinking or smoking. They also prescribe to religious and spiritual practices that include worship time and family time recognizing the Sabbath, which allows them to downshift for 24 hours
every week (Buettner & Skemp, 2016). Studies showed that this Adventist community in California outlives the average
American by a decade.
Many religions also participate in fasting, which is a period of time were devoted worshipers are committed to no eating.
Muslim, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Hindu and numerous other religions participate in fasting as a form of a religious
sacrifice. In the Islamic religion, fasting during Ramadan is a religious practice wherein Muslims fast during a 29-30-day
consecutive period every year. Practicing Muslims fast from sun up to sun down during Ramadan (Sloan, Bagiella, &
Powell (1999). Research suggests that total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein
(HDL) and blood glucose have been improved in populations of Muslims while observing the religions practice of Ramadan.
Similar to fasting, other religions and cultures believe in not over indulging in food and drink. The Okinawa's of Japan
practice a mix of Taoism, Buddhism and Shintoism. Okinawans also attribute their longevity to the old Confucian mantra
said before meals Hara Hachi Bu, which reminds them to stop eating when 80% full, and this helps them to not overindulge (Buettner & Skemp, 2016). Many studies have shown that religious involvement and spirituality are associated
with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even during terminal illness) and less anxiety, depression, and suicide (Mueller, Plevak, Rummans (2001).
The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu are known as two of the world’s most spiritual leaders. They come from two
different religions yet they have much commonality and together suggest that spirituality and religion have supported
practices that contribute to a healthier overall life. In their book The Book of Joy, they discuss their beliefs, feelings, and
lifestyles while combating universal challenges. They write extensively about how their faith contributes to their ability to
manage feelings of fear, anger, grief and even death. Both of the spiritual leaders suggest that in order to truly be able to
experience joy, one must connect with and express love that can be bolstered by deep faith (Dalai Lama., Tutu., Abrams.
2016) .
The scientific literature suggests that the understanding and integration of mind/body therapies can make a significant contribution to overall well-being (Hickners & Sherman 2008) Meditation, for example, allows for the formation of new neurons in the brain, which in turn contributes to an increase in brain matter and improvement in cognitive
and emotional functioning. Meditation also boosts the body's immune system, increases mindfulness, reduces stress and
enhances hormonal regulation (Rushton, 2012). Both the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu participate in meditation and
prayer. Some research suggests that meditation is a gateway to better concentration during prayer. Being able to reach a
space of clarity, quiet, and focus lets an individual achieve a clearer mind for prayer more quickly and easily.
Constant negativity, stress, unhealthy behaviors, and poor coping skills both separately and in combination contribute to the deterioration of the body and the mind. Using positive coping skills such as prayer and meditation can activate the pleasure centers of your brain creating positive feeling states. These positive feeling states can enhance our ability to self regulate, this can lead to positive health behaviors and in turn favorably influence the body, mind and spirit.
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Holistic Health Medicine an the Criminal Justice System
By Nicolas Muscadin ‘19 & Denisse Peralta ‘18
Research shows that many prisoners/juveniles have a high rate of mental health problems; this presents a serious
challenge and requires the appropriate mental health services for the prisoners while incarcerated and also once they have
been released from prison. The research suggests that meditation, yoga, and a collection of fitness-based activities have been
utilized in this environment to combat the pressing mental and emotional health issues that are prevalent among prisoners. (Nakaya, Kumano, Minoda, 2004) The Bureau of Justice reports that over 2.5 million ex-offenders continue with criminal activity once paroled or violate the terms of their release (2015). Creating productive programming, services, and interventions to improve the mental health and general well-being of the prisoner population is necessary to improve the chances
of living a productive life in society once released.
Female Detainees
Research conducted by Sumter and colleagues found that meditation is beneficial for the population of inmates
suffering from emotional and behavioral disorders (Sumter, Monk-Turner, Turner, 2009). The experimental group participated in 2-½ hours of meditation once a week for 7 weeks and reported post intervention that they had less sleeping difficulties, a lower desire to hit people or throw things, and performed less biting (Sumter, Monk-Turner, Turner, 2009). The
researchers suggest that the meditation was a cost-effective, productive intervention for this population (Sumter, MonkTurner, Turner, 2009). In addition, when the prisoners were released from prison they reported that they felt more hopeful
and less guilty after participating in the meditation.
Another prevalent issue is the reported hyper-masculinity of men in prison and the resulting fights; far more than
that reported in the female correctional system. The hyper-masculinity issue is a mental disorder that causes males to believe they need to be the strongest and most domineering in all situations. (Karp, 2010) A study conducted by David R.
Karp that involved a program known as “ManKind Project” helped the male inmates to express their masculinity in a positive way. (Karp, 2010) The study explains that this program seeks to offer inmates the opportunity to redefine their feelings. One of the ways the program is effective is to allow the inmates to use their energy through physical work such as
construction that requires heavy lifting. In addition, they are taught skills that will allow them to secure jobs other than
those that involve drugs and violence (Karp, 2010).
Juveniles
Incarcerated juveniles are another seriously at risk population who are often dealing with stress and mental health
problems. A study investigated the utility of muscle relaxation exercises for incarcerated juveniles (Nakaya, Kumano, Minoda, 2004). They were divided into two groups and the muscle relaxation group received muscle relaxation therapy once a
week for 4 weeks while the control group remained without treatment .(Nakaya, Kumano, Minoda, 2004). The results did
not show any drastic changes in the behavior of the juveniles because it did not significantly improve measures of depression, irritability, or anger . The most significant difference made by the muscle relaxation program was that the treatment
group became less frustrated with various situations and other juveniles . (Nakaya, Kumano, Minoda, 2004).
The correctional system needs more programming to enhance recovery and healing for prisoners to allow for improved functioning upon release from prison and a reduction in recidivism rates. Current research suggests that it is productive to include alternative approaches to healing with incarcerated populations such as meditation, restructuring programs
and muscle relaxation work.
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Awareness & Education Can Improve Health
By Natalie Carvajal ’18 & Amanda Marcelin ‘17
Poor lifestyle health behaviors result in many serious life-threatening diseases such as heart disease and obesity. On average, about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths
(Heart Disease Facts, 2015). Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both sexes; however, obesity is also associated with significant increases in morbidity and mortality. In the United States alone, about one-third of adults suffer
from obesity which is now classified as a disease by the American Medical Association. Lifestyle related diseases cost
billions of dollars per year and account for 75% of the health care costs.
“The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars; the medical
costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.” (Adult Obesity Facts, 2016) while
heart disease “costs the United States about $207 billion each year. The heart disease figure includes the cost of
health care services, medications, and the lost productivity” (Heart Disease Fact Sheet, 2016). In order for a significant
change to occur, human beings must learn about and become more comfortable with the idea of changing their lifestyle behaviors in order to enhance their health. One way this can be accomplished is by incorporating more healthbehavior-enhancing education into schools to increase physical literacy and support the adoption of positive health
behaviors for a lifetime. One of the main goals of health education should be to help young individuals develop healthier eating habits and understand the benefits of making physical activity a regular part of their life. Becoming physically fit is associated with improvements in cognition, enhances disease prevention, improves quality of life, and increases life expectancy. “Physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in a dose-dependent manner. Benefits are seen with regular moderate-intensity physical activity, e.g. walking, but more intense exercise, e.g. running,
carried out more often and for longer episodes can decrease risk even further” (Miles, 2007 p.316).
Helping students understand some of the simple ways to improve their health and wellbeing should be a major
aim for the health curriculum. There are many health and fitness professionals who come in contact with students
through the educational system including Physical Education Teachers, Athletic Trainers, School Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists. Teachers and all staff members have the one of the most important responsibilities and that is to mold students into educated and healthy individuals by teaching them health behaviors that will benefit them for a lifetime. Well-developed, scientifically based Health programs in schools can help. Programs such as
CATCH ( Coordinated Approach to Child Health) have had success in reducing childhood obesity. The program has
resulted in an 11% decrease in overweight and obesity among participating children (Catchinfo.org). The program has
a multi-faceted approach working on the messaging a child receives in physical education, the food and messaging in
the lunchroom, the information/educational material in the classroom, and the follow-through at home. Their comprehensive approach forms an effective resource that impacts a child’s choices.
Childhood obesity is of increasing concern in the United States; over the past 30 years alone, obesity has increased twofold in children and threefold in adolescents (Burke et al,2014). Another program, the Active School Project, was rolled out at Beloit High School in Wisconsin. Their Cardio Fitness Center was made available before, during, and after school. Students reported that the fitness center impacted the environment at the school in a positive
way. Students were reportedly more friendly and respectful and have many more options to be physically active
(Wagner,2012) Preventing childhood obesity has become a top priority in efforts to improve our nation’s public health
(Puhl & Latner, 2007). It is understood that much information must be gathered prior to making health assumptions,
but it is still important and imperative to approach childhood obesity in a delicate manner. The social and emotional
stigma that youths face when dealing with obesity can cause them to face extreme emotional and physical consequences.
Students may be social marginalized as a result of being overweight or obese and research suggest the will
face social disadvantages in multiple domains of living, including employment, education, healthcare, and interpersonal relationships (Brownell, Puhl, Schwartz, & Rudd, 2005; Puhl & Brownell, 2001). Physical educator believe that the
“whole child” comes to school to be educated and that this requires both mental and physical training. The relationship
between physical activity and mental functioning is of particular interest in the school system because such a large
portion of the school day is spent working in the cognitive domain (Puhl & Latner, 2007). Through education, teachers and all educated health professionals within a school have the opportunity and ability to mold students into physically, emotionally, cognitively, and physiologically healthy individuals (Sibley & Etnier, 2003).
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Authors
All of the authors are
students at Saint Peter’s
University
Editors
Jay C. Garrels, PhD
Instructor
Dept. Health & Physical
Education
With the Experts!
Future issues will contain a question and answer section. We invite
the Saint Peter’s community to submit questions/letters to the editors related to health, fitness, wellness, nutrition, and alternative
therapies such as yoga. The questions will appear in this section
and will be followed by a response by the experts!.
All questions/inquiries may be submitted to either:
Stephanie Bryan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Chair, Dept. Health &
Physical Education
[email protected]
[email protected]
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References
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American Physical Therapy Association. (2016). Baby Boomers by the Numbers [Brochure]. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
Assendelft, W., Morton, S., Yu, E., Suttorp, M., & Shekel, P. (2004). Spinal manipulative therapy for low back pain. (Doctora l dissertation, Dutch
College of General Practioners)[Abstract]. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000447.pub2
Baldwin, C. (2002). A Profile of Military Veterans in the Southwestern United States Who Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Retrieved
February 16, 2017, from http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/754073
Bouter, L. (2002, May 21). Manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care by a general practitioner for patients with neck pain. A randomized,
controlled trial. (Doctoral dissertation, Cabrini Hospital, 2002) [Abstract]. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Physical Therapists
Burke, R., Meyer, A., Kay, C., Allensworth, D., & Gazmararian, J. (2014). A holistic school-based intervention for improving health-related knowledge,
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