Through examining the readings on “physical development" it became noticeable how there was an established relationship between physical health and academic achievement. The education system now focuses on suiting the needs of the students and analyzing their physical health. Physical health is now seen by the education system as an important component of ensuring students can achieve academically. This is due to a growing concern of how malnutrition affects the students’ ability to perform academically, as noted by the article “The Link Between Nutrition and Cognitive Development”:

“Recent research provides compelling evidence that undernutrition – even in its “milder” forms – during any period of childhood can have detrimental effects on the cognitive development of children and their later productivity as adults… undernutrition impacts the behavior of children, their school performance, and their overall cognitive development” (Tufts University, 1998).

As researchers analyzed this revelation, it has become more important that physical health in students must be addressed. This means providing strategies for physical activities to help not only improve students’ health, but their ability to perform in school.

International research also found that a good physical health, usually through physical activity such as sports, has been a “positive predictor of academic achievement” (Department of Sport and Recreation). This positive link between physical development and academic performance is an excellent combination when taking into account that students can spend more time with physical activities without it affecting their grades (Department of Sport and Recreation). Physical development is also useful for building a student’s self-esteem and confidence. Research on organizations, such as sports communities, have helped students who are physically active to being “more likely to perform better academically” (Department of Sport and Recreation). This research shows that being healthy is important for both their body and academic success. It is now more important for the education system to produce and execute strategies that help the physical development of students.

For this section I shall focus on introducing tools to create methods for physical development, such as exercise guides. At the same time, students will learn about healthy foods that they can consume to help improve their academic performance.