Dive Brief:

• Students at a high school in Huntington, WV, which received the unfortunate designation of America’s “most obese city,” can now take courses to become exercise instructors in a program among the latest efforts by schools to try new approaches in encouraging healthy, active lifestyles.
• Other efforts include “selfie”-driven wellness initiatives and gardens where students learn to keep plants alive.
• Some initiatives also target mental health and prevent teen suicide by starting conversations between students and teachers and helping educators identify changes in student behavior.

Dive Insight:

A report in 2014 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that a healthy diet and active lifestyle help students keep their grades up, stay in class, and control behavior problems. While the news was not a surprise to educators, it helped spur district leaders around the country to adopt aggressive wellness programs alongside academic reforms. Some districts even have entire schools built around healthy lifestyles. 

The changes sometimes extend to students’ families as well, particularly in vulnerable communities without access to health resources. Denver, for example, has established a school-based center, called Z Place, that provides space for community groups and offers physical healthcare and mental support to students and their families.