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HowEatingAffectsEducationalProgression
NicoleRousey,BS
EDUC623
April12,2015
Dr.LeeVartanian

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ResearchQuestionOverview
Howdoeseatinghealthyaffectwhatweareabletodoatworktimeintheclassroom?
Whatweeataffectshowweactandwhatwedo,butdoesitalsoaffecthowwelearn?
Mostpeopleneedsnackstoholdthemoverfromonemealtothenext,butitisimportantto
knowhowthesesnacksaffectourworkethicandwhatwecanprocessandlearn.Ichoseto
researchhowhealthysnackingandunhealthysnackinghelpsorhindersouracademicprogress.
Inmyopinion,healthysnackingwillimproveacademicsuccessbecauseitwillnotcauseusto
filluponfatsthatslowusdown.Iamhopingtodiscoverhoweatingchangesacademicprogress
withintheclassroom.
AnnotatedBibliography
Article1
PeiLin,H.(2004).Factorsinfluencingstudentsdecisionstochoosehealthyorunhealthysnacks
attheUniversityofNewcastle,Australia.JournalofNursingResearch(TaiwanNurses
Association),12(2),8390.Retrievedfrom
http://0-web.b.ebscohost.com.library.lander.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
vid=2&sid=bc2d5782-af5b-444f-96f708597cbac077%40sessionmgr113&hid=106&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl
2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=14781933

Thisstudywascreatedtoseehowhealthyandunhealthysnacksinfluencestudents.
Studentsparticipatedininterviewsandwereabletoevaluatethefoodsthattheyhadandthe
pressuresthatcamealongwithchoosinghealthyandunhealthysnacks.Atotaloften
participants,ofcarryingnationalityandage,tookplacewithintheresearch.Allofthe
participantswerestudentsattendingtheUniversityofNewcastleinAustralia.Thearticlestates

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thattheparticipantswererecruited.Theresearchershadtwodifferentinterviewstomakesure
thatthequestionstheyusedhadtheparticipantsgiveenoughfeedbacktomaketheresearchmore
accurate.Participantswereaskedaseriesofquestionsthatmadethemthinkabouthealthyand
unhealthysnacks.Participantsprovidedfeedbackaboutmakingaswitchtomorenutritious
snacksorifthiswassomethingtheydidnotthinkofdoing.Noneofthequestionsappeartobe
singleanswerquestions,thereforeahigherorderofthinkingandcommunicationwasneededto
answerthequestionscompletely.ThesequestionsincludedWhenyoutalkaboutsnackswhat
wordscometomind?Howoftendoyoueatsnacksinatypicalday?AndWhen?Howdoyou
feelwhenyoucutdownonunhealthysnacks?Whatarethebenefits/disadvantagesofsnacking
onhealthysnacksinsteadofchocolate,etc?Theresultshelpedschoolnursesunderstandhow
studentssnack,whichcouldlaterhelpthemprovidewaystoaddresshealthyeatingtostudentsin
thefuture.
Thestudyexplainsthatmostoftheparticipantsgeneralizedthatwhenwethinkof
snackingwegenerallythinkofunhealthyfoods,suchaslollipopsandchips.Ibelievethata
strengthtothisresearchdefinedwhatstudentsthoughtahealthyandunhealthysnackconsisted
of.Theycontinuedtosaythatpeopletypicallydidnoteatthehealthysnackssuchas
vegetablesandfruits;insteadtheychoosetheunhealthysnacksthatweredescribedas
processedfoodandfoodscontaininghighlevelsofsugarandfat.Althoughseveralofthe
participantssaidiftheyhadencounteredahealthproblemtheywouldhavemadeaswitchfrom
unhealthysnackingtohealthiersnacking,whichalsocouldhavebeenmaturationbecausethe
participantsweremoreawareofwhattheywereeatingmakingthisathreattotheinternal
validity.Theparticipantsthoughtthatiftheydidnothaveaseverweightproblemorhealth

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problemthantheydidnotfinditimportanttochangewhattheyweredoingtotrytoprevent
thesethingsfromhappening.
Oneoftheweaknessesofthisstudywasinthesamplesize,itwasasmallsizeoften
participants,anditstatedthattheywereaconveniencesample.Thereforeasmallsizeofpeople
thathavetobetruthfulaboutexactlywhattheyhad.Iftheresearchershadexpandedthesample
sizeandgottenmoreparticipantsfromdifferentschools,differentplacesofemployments,they
mayhavefoundmorevariedresultsonsnacking.Oneofthestrengthsofthesamplesizewasthat
thestudentsrangedinalargeagegroupfrom20to46yearsoldandhadseveraldifferent
nationalities.Havingseveraldifferentnationalitieswithinastudyoftenstudentscouldalsobea
threattotheexternalvalidity,theresearchersmighthavegeneralizedabouteachnationalityand
thinkthattheysnackdifferently,wheninactualityitmayhavejustbeenthatperson.Thestudy
alsostatedthattheparticipantswereinvolvedintwodifferentinterviewssotheresearcherscould
ensuretheyweregettingtheinformationtheyneeded.Anotherstrengthfoundwithinthis
researchwasthattheyusedthesamedatestocollecttheinformationfromthestudents,staying
awayfromholidaysandoccasionsthattendtopromoteunhealthyeating.Hadtheresearchersnot
waitedtheycouldhaveseenathreattoexternalvalidity,multipletreatmentinterference,having
studentseatingdifferentlywithfamiliesandnotbeingabletosurroundthemselveswiththe
foodstheyweremakingandchoosingtoeat.
AnotherweaknessIsawasathreattoexternalvaliditywastheselectionbias,byjust
usingtheoneuniversitytoconductthestudyon.Theycouldhavefoundseveraluniversitiesand
severaldifferenttypesofjobsandcareerfieldsthatmayhaveyieldeddifferentresultsabout
whatpeopledefinedhealthyandunhealthysnacksas,howmanypeopleactuallysnackandwhen

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theysnack.Allofthequestionstheyaskcouldhavehadastrongeroutcomehavingmultiple
sourcestopullfrom.

Article2
Strobele,N.,McNally,J.,Plog,A.,Siegfried,S.,&Hill,J.O.(2013)Theassociationofself
reportedsleep,weightstatus,andacademicperformanceinfifthgradestudents.Journal
OfSchoolHealth,83(2).Retrievedfrom
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/josh.12001
Thepurposeofthisstudyistoimprovehealthpromotioninschoolsbecausetheyfound
thatunderstandingstudentshealthbehaviorsaffectacademicperformance.Tobegintheschool
administeredanonlinehealthysurveyquestioningeatingbehavior,physicalactivity,academic
performance,andsleeppatterns.Participantsansweredthequestionsontheirownwithoutbeing
weighedormeasuredwithauniversaltool.Atotalof1095fifthgradestudentswithintheCherry
CreekSchoolDistrictinDenver,Coloradoweresurveyed.Theyexamineddifferencesby
gender,weight,andbytheamountofsleep.Resultsfoundthattherelationshipbetween
academicperformanceandhealthbehaviorsdidgotogether.Studentsthatdidnotreceivean
appropriateamountofphysicalactivityandwatchedtoomuchtelevisionreportedbeing
overweightwhichalsoshowedsignsofloweracademicprogress.Studentsthatreportedgettinga
sufficientamountofsleep,ofaboutninehours,reportedhavingbettergrades,watchedless
televisionandreportedthattheyweremorephysicallyactive.Theconclusionwasthatmore

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positivehealthbehaviorsgenerallywereassociatedwithbetteracademicperformance.
Therefore,schoolsthatpromotehealthybehaviorsshouldalsoseeanimprovementinstudents
academicperformance.
Childrenshealthisahugefactorandbeingawareofhowwecanchanceacademicand
physicalhealthiscrucialinorderforustohelpchildrenbecomethebesttheycanbe.The
researchthatwastakenwasveryusefulandvitalinformationtohaveinordertotakesteps
forwardinhelpingoutchildren.Oneofthethreatstoexternalvaliditywouldhavebeenselection
biasbecausetheyjustusedfifthgradestudents.Hadtheyopenedthisuptoanentireelementary
agelevelofthirdthroughsixthgradeorevenmuchmorevariousrangingfromkindergartento
highschooltheresultsmayhavebeendifferent.Fifthgradestudentsdonotgettomakethe
choiceasmuchashighschoolstudentsdoaboutwhattheyaregoingtoeatandwhereitcomes
from,Ibelievethiswouldhavebeenbetterifdoneonahighschoolagerangeaswelltoshow
theresultsofstudentsgettingtomaketheirownchoicesonwhatisbeingconsumedandwhatis
donewiththeirfreetime.Astrengthwasthattheyusedelevendifferentschoolsandwereable
toreceiveinformationfrom1095students,althoughtheseschoolswhereallinthesameschool
districtinDenverColorado.Thereforeaweaknesscouldbeseenthatthisgeneralizingthe
populationwheninfactonlyonedistrictwithinonestatewastested.Thiseasilycouldhavebeen
dispersedthroughoutthenationtogetavarietyoffifthgradestudentsfromdifferent
backgrounds,cultures,andstates.Itworriesmethatonlyusingtheonetownmightshowthat
studentsinthisareaarehealthybecausetheyareexposedtoalotofextracurricularactivitiesor
viceversa.Studentswereaskquestionsabouttheirweight,sleeppatterns,eatinghabitsandthen
theywerenotmonitored,thereforeIseethiscouldalsobeathreatbecausesomemighthave
answeredquestionsbasedonwhattheythoughtwascorrectinsteadofwhattheyreallydid.

Article3
Manger,W.M.,Manger,L.S.,Minno,A.M.,Killmeyer,M.,Holzman,R.S.,Schullinger,J.N.,
&Roccella,E.J.(2012).Obesitypreventioninyoungschoolchildren:resultsofapilot
study.JournalOSchoolHealth,82(10),462468.Retrievedfrom
http://0-web.b.ebscohost.com.library.lander.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
sid=f5644f97-2172-4320-a4ef-dbead53b3e8b
%40sessionmgr115&vid=0&hid=107&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ
%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=EJ1013563

ChildrenthatareoverweightandobeseareontheriseinAmericaandthisresearchhas
takenaconveniencesampleof14interventionand15controlschoolsinaPittsburgarea.Atotal
of29schoolsoftheCatholicDioceseofPittsburgwereusedinthisstudy.The14intervention
schoolsvolunteeredtoparticipateusingtheirfirstandsecondgradechildrenandtheother15
schoolsremainedunchanged.Childrenwereevaluatedonheightandweightovera2yearperiod
andteacherscompletedquestionnaires.Theratechangewithinthetwogroupswasdrastically
differentaftercompletingthisstudy.TheconclusionstatesVITALimproveslifestylesofyoung
schoolchildren,isinexpensive,easytoimplement,andshouldbeexpandedtoimprovehealth
andreducehealthcaresfinancialburden.
Amajorstrengthinthisresearchwasusingacontrolgroup,notjusthavingagroupthat
theygiveatreatmentto.Sothestudywasabletoseethechangewithinthetwodifferenttypesof
students.AweaknessthatIseeisgeneralization,becauseagainthestudywasconductedwithin
onePittsburgareaandnotnationwidetoshowthedifferencewithinseveralschoolagedchildren
throughoutAmerica.Athreattointernalvaliditycouldeasilybeseenashistory,because

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studentsmightknowwhytheyarebeingmeasured,sotheymighttrytoeatbetterthisyear,or
theirparentsmighthelpencouragethestudentstobemoreactivetoshowalargerprogression
forthestudy.Anotherthreatmightbematuration.Studentsaregoingfromfirsttosecondgrade,
sowiththisbeingsaid;studentsarebecomingmoreknowledgeableabouttheirbodyandwaysto
careforthemselves.Thiscouldhaveaneffectontheresults.Thisisnotsomethingthatcould
easilybechangedbutiftheyconductedthestudywithouttheparentsandstudentsknowingwhat
washappeningtheresultsmightbemorevalid.Also,teachersgaveeightlessonsabouthealthy
eatingandexercise,thiscouldhelptheresultsbemorepositivebecausestudentswouldlearn
moreaboutwaystokeepthemselveshealthy.Anotherweaknesswasthatthiswasjustapilot
study,sonotalothasbeendonewiththis;itwasatimetodevelopandseewhatworked.Soif
theycontinuedwithresearchandspentmoretimelearningaboutnewwaystohelpstudentsthey
mighthavechangedmoreofwhattheydid.

Article4
Cluggish,S.,&Kinder,G.(2008).ShapeupSomerville:districttackleschildhoodobesity.
EducationDigest:EssentialReadingsCondensedForQuickReview,73(8),3236.
Retrievedfrom

http://0-

web.a.ebscohost.com.library.lander.edu/ehost/detail/detail?sid=fbc32d638379-44a0-a439112d654ec4a4%40sessionmgr4003&vid=0&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZW
hvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=EJ799017

SchoolswithintheSomerville,MAsWinterHillCommunityhavetakenalacarteitems
offoftheirmenuthatincludepotatochipsandchocolatechipcookies.Studentfundraiserswhere

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childrencanbuysweetsbeforelunchhavebeenbanishedfromtheschool.Teachersarenot
longeraloudtogivecandytostudentsasawardsforajobwelldone.Nowstudentsareprovided
withwholefruitandcanhaveasmuchastheywouldlikeatbreakfastandlunch.Freshsalads,
withthelettuceandothergreensbeingpickedfromtheschoolsgardenareservedonadaily
basis.Thenewalacarteitemsincludebottledwater,yogurt,andotherlowfat,lowsugar
snacks.Studentsaregiven30minutestoeatandplay.Teachersalsorequesttastetestingasparts
ofmath,scienceandsocialstudieslessonswithintheclassroom.Beforethisresearchtheyfound
44%ofthecitysfirstthroughthirdgraderswereoverweightoratriskofbeingoverweight.
Teachersadded30ofinstructionaltimeonnutritionandwellnesseachweektotheir
curriculum.Theycreatedthistobeacitywideproject.Sostudentswouldbegettingthe
messagefromeveryone:intheclassroom,atafterschoolprograms,fromparents,restaurants,
etc.Itwasmorethanjusthearingitandfollowingitinschool.Thecityworkedasateamto
createandpromotehealthyeatingandhealthylearners.
Towardsthebeginningofthestudyteachers,studentsandfoodservicestaffwerenot
100%onboard,whichcausedforahugedropinsales.Onceeveryonewitnessedwhatwas
happeningandcouldseeapositivechangetheschoollunchparticipationincreased.More
studentswantedtoeatthesemealsonceallthesugary,fattyfoodswerenolongeravailable.The
staffwasencouragedandtherewereabletobenefitfromthestudybyreceivingtrainingon
nutrition,safeknifeusage,mealpresentationandpersonalhealthandwellnessclassesprovided
byShapeUp,byNewBalance.Studentsandfamiliesweregiventheopportunitytolearnbetter
waystoeatandsnack,aswellas,exerciseandbuyorcouponfoodstopromotethisstudy.They
foundthatShapeUpSomervillereducedapproximatelyonepoundofexcessweightgainover

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eightmonthsforan8yearoldchild.Thereforeoverallthistranslatestolessweightgainand
largernumbersofchildrenmovingoutoftheoverweightcategory!
Lookingforthreatstovalidity,Iseethathavingtheentirecommunitycouldbea
problem.Youfirstwouldhavetogeteveryoneonboardwiththisresearchwhichwouldbevery
difficult.MultipleTreatmentinterferencemightbeathreatthatshouldbetakeninto
consideration.Severalpeoplemightbeonspecialdietsorworkoutalotmorethantheaverage
person,sotheirresultsfromthisstudywouldbedifferentthansomeonewhoisfollowingjust
whatthisstudyasks.Ithinkinorderforthistobethemostaccuratetheywouldhavetoask
everyonetolimittheirexerciseandworkingouttoaminimumorputitonholdforseveral
weeksuntiltheycanseesomegainsfromtheprogramtheyarestudying.Anothersimilarthreat
wouldbestudentsthatbringtheirownlunchfromhometoschool,iftheydonotfollowthe
studythentheymightbringinfoodthatwasnotashealthyaswhatisbeinggiventotheother
students,whichmightaltertheoutcomes.
Iseeofthestrengthstothisarticlebeingthatitwasnotjustastudydonewithinthe
schoolbutitwaswithinthecommunity.Theyhelpedteachersbygivingthemincentivesand
trainings,sotheycouldbettereducatestudentsandparentsaboutpromotingthehealthyeating
andsnacking.Thecommunityalsowasabletoprovideassistancetofamilieswithtipsforbuying
goodandgettingcouponstosavemoney.Studentswereprovidednewplaygroundequipment
whichwouldhelpgetthemtobemoreactive.Thisalsocouldbeseenasamultipletreatment
interferencebecauseitwillcausethestudentstobemoreactiveandplayfulatrecess,whichis
good,butthiswouldnotjustbeshowingtheeffectsofhealthyeating.

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Article5
Phillips,G.W.(2006).Doeseatingbreakfastaffecttheperformanceofcollegestudentson
biologyexams?Bioscence:JournalofCollegeBiologyTeaching,30(4),1519.Retrieved
from
http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.library.lander.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
sid=c447dbbc-981c-4bb4-8847f327bbd22c24%40sessionmgr4004&vid=0&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWh
vc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=EJ876514

Thisstudyfollowed1,259collegestudentsoverelevenmonthstoseeiftheireating
behaviorsatbreakfastimpactedtheirgradesongeneralbiologyexams.Thestudyprovedthat
therewasalargedifferenceinperformanceontheexamwithahigherpercentoftheparticipants,
whohadeatenbreakfastpassedtheexam.Only65.6%ofthestudentsinthestudyhadeaten
breakfast.Thisstudysupportsseveralotherstudiesthathavealsofoundadecreaseingrades
whenbreakfastwasskippedofotherindividualsofyoungerages.
ThemostobviousthreatwouldbetogeneralizeagroupofstudentstakingthisGeneral
BiologyICoarse.Thismightbemoreaccurateittheusedagroupofstudentsfromseveral
differentclasses,becausethisistypicallyadifficultcoarseunlessyouareplanningtopursue
youreducationwithinasciencerelatedfieldofstudy.Anotherthreatcouldbeselectionbias,
usingjuststudentsfromthiscourse,wedonotknowiftheywererandomlyselectedorifthey
wereselectedbasedoffofwhattheirmajorwasasthetime.Studentsbeingexaminedcouldbe
givenextrahelportime;theyalsomighthavebeengiventheopportunitytousereferenceswhile
takingtheirexams,noneofthiswasarticulatedwithinthearticle.Theycouldhavegivenmore

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insightaboutwhatthebreakfastwasandhowwhatevereachstudenthadforbreakfastaffected
theoutcomeofthestudyortest.Didthestudentthathadcoldpizzadobetterthanthestudent
thathadfruitandapieceoftoast?Oneofthestrengthstothisstudyisthattheywereableto
provideevidencethatstudentsatebreakfastandtheyprovidedexamplesofwhatthebreakfast
was.Thereforestudentswouldbelesslikelytosaytheyatewhenmaybetheyjusthadacupof
coffeeorapill.Anotherexampleofastrengthmightbethattheyfoundthemajorityofstudents
whohadbreakfast,ofsomekindoranother,madeaCorbetteroneachoftheexams.Ialso
noticedthatoneofthestrengthswasthattheyfollowedthesestudentsforelevenmonths;
thereforeitwasnotjustaonetimeoccurrencethattheyhappenedtoeatbreakfastanddowellon
theexam.Theywereabletosupporttheirevidencebyfollowingthemforanextendedamountof
time.

Article6
Winson, A. (2010). The demand for healthy eating: supporting a transformative food
movement. Rural Sociology, 75(4). 584-600. Retrieved from
http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.library.lander.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
sid=b2a42a40-959c-41c9-9507-451d7480029a
%40sessionmgr4004&vid=2&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ
%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=EJ913258

Thepurposeofthisstudywastoprovideevidencethatwestruggletoensurehealthy
eatinginsociety.Theyhaveprovidedamovementinwhichtopromotehealthyeatinginpublic
schoolstoprovethatobesityisontheriseandcanaffecthowchildrenlearn.Theygoontoshow
thatthebasicneedsarenotbeingmettochildren,inthehierarchyofneeds,beingthatachildis

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eatingorgiventhepropernutritionneededtolearnandcomprehend.Thedevelopersofthis
studywanttosupportlocalsandhavefoodfromnearbyservedtostudentsandusemorefoods
thatareorganicandlessprocessedtoincreasethehealthofstudents.Thearticlecontinuesto
discussthatschoolfoodshavequicklyturnedintoafastfoodandjunkfoodarea.Sellingfood
thatisnutrientpoor.Thegovernmenthasputaportionsizeonagegroupsaswell,limitingwhat
studentscaneat.CompaniessuchasPepsiCoandNestlehaveworkedwithschoolstohelpthem
earnmoneybyplacingvendingmachinesintheschools.Sostudentscanbuymorefood,these
companiesknowstudentswillpayforjunkfoodandwouldpreferitovercafeteriafood.Thereis
amovementforschoolstotakebackschoollunches,sotheseoutsidevendorswillstopfeeding
students.Sostudentswillbeeatingmorenutritiousfoodstohelptheirgrowthnotonlyphysically
butmentally.
Thisarticlereallydidnotgivealotofevidenceordetailthatastudywasconducted.It
almostseemedlikemoreofarantaboutwhatshouldbeservedinschools.Astrengthinthis
articlewasthatobesityisontherise,duetotheconsumptionofnutritionpoorfoodsbeing
consumedbystudents.Severalyearsagoschoolsdidnotprovidevendingmachinefoodsto
students,sotheyhadtheoptionofeatingschoollunchorbringtheirlunchfromhome.Theydid
nothavetheoptionofcomingtoschoolandbuyingalotofsoda,chocolate,candy,highsugar,
andhighfatfoods.Anotherstrengthwastheyresearchedwithinmultiplecountriesandwereable
tofindwherestudentswerefedthemostnutritiousfoodsandwherestudentshadtheoptionof
purchasingfoodsthathadlittletononutritionalvalue.Oneoftheexternalthreatstovalidity
wouldbeamultitreatmentinterference,sincethiswaslookedatinmultiplesetting.Thereisa
tendencythatsomestudentsdodifferentactivitiesinthedifferentplacesthiswasstudied.

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Therefore,somestudentsmayhavejobs,othermayplaysports,andothersmaynotdoanything
afterschool.Theclassestheytakearedifferentandrequiredifferentformsofphysicalactivity.
Theseareallfactorsthatshouldbetakenintoconsideration.Theremayalsobeageneralization
thatallstudentsfromoneareaarethesame.Iftheyconductedthisstudyonmultipleregionsin
eachcountryitwouldhavebeenimportanttoknowwhattheculturewaslikeandwhattheydid
besidesgoingtoschool.Athreattothevalidityofthiscouldalsobetheuseofinstruments,not
knowhowtheymeasuredeachnutritionalfact,didtheychange?Itisimportanttohaveallthe
facts.Ifeellikealotofimportantfactswereleftoutofwhathappened.

Article7
Rutledge, T.F., & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). School heath
guidelines to promote healthy eating and physical activity. Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Reports 60(5). Retrieved from
http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.library.lander.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
sid=95145c67-7018-4ad38e39045a278f3c05%40sessionmgr4002&vid=0&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU
9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=ED524258

Thisstudybelievesthatschoolshavearesponsibilitytohelppreventobesityandpromote
healthylifestylechoicestotodayschildren.Thestudystatesthatyoungpeoplewithpoordiets
andlimitedphysicallyactivitiesareatamuchhigherriskofgettingachronicdisease,whichis
ontheriseofkillingadults.Theybelievethatwhenwecanconnectwithchildrenandencourage
themtoeathealthyandpromotemorephysicalactivitythatwecandecreasethenumberof

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chronicillnesslaterinlife.Manyschoolshavetakentheroleastheteacherofpromotingthis
newhealthylifestyle.Takingvendingmachinesoutoftheschoolsandsupportinghealthy
behaviors.Theseproceduresthathavebeenputtopractice,theyhaveseenhealthierstudentsthat
aremoreengagedintheclassroom.Themethodstheyputtopracticeweretoeducatestudents
abouthealthyeatingandprovidingthemmoretimetobephysicallyactiveatschool.Providing
differentwaystoencouragephysicalactivity,thosestudentsmayenjoyandnotfeelasiftheyare
workingout.Theyevolveddifferentcommunityagencies,aswellas,families,counseling
servicesandsocialservices.Theyfoundthatbydoingthishealthyeatingandphysicalactivity
increasednotonlyinchildrenbutalsointheirfamilies.Theyalsofoundthatstudentshadmore
productivedaysatschoolandgradesbegantoincrease.
Amultitreatmentinterferenceissomethingthatconcernsmewiththisstudy,becausenot
onlyweretheychanginghowchildrenandfamiliesate,buttheywerealsoencouragingmore
activity.Therefore,weseetwodifferenttreatmentstakingplaceatthesametime.Sothereare
twocontrolsthatarebeingchanged,whichwouldaffecttheoutcomeofthestudy.Maturationis
alsohappeningduringthetimeofthestudybecausestudentsarelearningmoreabouthowthe
affectsofthefoodscouldhurtthem.Thereforechildrenarelearningthebenefitsofeating
healthyandmaybemorelikelytochangewhattheyaredoingastheylearnaboutit.

Article8
Bogden, J. F., & National Association of State Boards of Education, A. V. (2000). Fit,
healthy, and ready to learn: a school health policy guide. Part I: physical
activity, healthy eating, and tobacco-use prevention. Retrieved from

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http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.library.lander.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
sid=46d963ac-4368-436e-8737e75782b13ef
%40sessionmgr4001&vid=0&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ
%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=ED465734

ThisprogramFit,Healthy,andReadytoLearnexplainsthathealthandstudentsuccess
areinterrelatedwithinschools.Itfocusesthemostonhealthandpreventionofdiseasesand
injuries,butalsoshowsstudentspositiveattitudestowardshealthandeducation.Sotheschools
havecoordinatedprogramstoteachfamilieshealthyeatinghabitsthatwillencouragechildrento
eatbetterandhelpstudentsengageintheclassroom.Differentpeoplewithintheschoolaregiven
differentjobstohelpensuretheeffectivenessoftheprogram,givingthendutiesthathelpwith
implementingalltheelementsoftheprogram.Studentswillbeanonymouslysurveyedeverytwo
years,studentsfamilieswillreceivesurveys,andstudentshealthwillbeevaluated.
Everythingattheschoolchanged,fromtheirvendingmachinestocelebrationsto
meetingsandbreakfastandlunchchoices.Allfoodwasnutritiousandappealingandmetthe
nutritionalstandardsofthestate/district/schoolhealthcouncil/nutritioncommittee.Students
werealsonotallowedtoleavetheschoolcampusduringschoolhourstopurchaseoutsidefoods.
Thereforeitwasverycontrolledonwhatstudentscouldandcouldnoteatduringschoolhours.
Thestudiesshowedthatchildrenwerelesslikelytobecomesick,missschoolandfallbehindin
classwhentheywerenourishedproperlyandinhealthymannerisms.Studentswhomwhere
undernourishedalsoshowedbehavior,emotionalandacademicproblems.
Thisstudywashadalotofactivitywithinit.Severalthingswerebeingstudiedand
taughtnotonlytostudentsbutalsotofamiliesandthecommunity.Thereforecreatingseveral
differentthreatstothevalidityofmyresearch.Firsttheywereteachingfamiliesandstudents

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aboutriskfactorsandwaystobecomehealthierandpreventdiseasesandinjuriesthrough
healthyeating,soIwouldconsiderthismaturationandtesting.Peoplewillthinkastheylearn
moreaboutbeinghealthyinwhattodoandhowtoeat,soastheymatureandlearntheywilltake
theriskoftryingthenewthingsthathavebeentaughttothem.Peoplewillalsoseethatinthe
beginningwithwhatwasaskofthemandwhatisaskattheendthattheywillwanttogive
differentanswerstomakethemselveslookbettersincetheyknewthatthiswastoshowhow
changingtheirlifestyletomakinghealthierchoiceswillhelpthemphysicallyandeducationally.
Alongwiththosethreats,thereactiveeffectoftestingmightalsobesomethingtotake
intoconsideration.Studentsandfamiliesmightthinkaboutwhattheyweretestedonandgive
answersbasedonwhattheythinktheresearchersmightwanttohearinsteadofgivingfactual
informationofwhatactuallytookplace.Ibelievethatwithinthisstudymultipletreatmentswere
given,lookingattobaccouse,schoolpolicies,physicalhealthclasses,classestoencourage
healthyeatingandprogramstohelpfamilieswithmoneytopurchasefoodsallplayapartinthe
results.Soalothappenedwithintheresearchandjustlookingforhowifaffectedtheeducational
growthofastudentisalottotrytotakeinfromallthatwashappening.

Article9
Feiden, K., & Robert Wood Johnson, F. (2010). Sprouting healthy kids promotes local
produce and healthy eating behavior in Austin, Texas, middle schools:
Promoting the use of local produce and healthy eating behaviors in Austin
city schools. Program Results Report.Robert Wood Johnson Fondation,
Retrieved from

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http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.library.lander.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
sid=3a26fa3d-1185-439f-af2a6b364f43e211%40sessionmgr4004&vid=0&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWh
vc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=ED540728

TheSustainableFoodCenterpartneredwithsixmiddleschoolsinTexastoimplement
SproutingHealthyKids.Thisprogramwasdesignedtopromotehealthyfoodsandencourage
healthyeatingfromlocalfarmsandincreasestudentsknowledgeofwhatitistobehealthy.
Eachschooldevotedbetweeneightandtwentyfourclassperiodseachsemestertodothisstudy.
Eachschoolthatparticipatedcreatedagardenandninetystudentswereinvolvedinthegarden
duringanafterschoolprogram.Sixoftheschoolsprovidedfruitsandvegetablesfromlocal
farmsatleastonceaweek.Theyfoundthatstudentswhoparticipatedintwoormoreofthe
projectsweremorelikelytoconsumethefruitsandvegetablesthanstudentswhowereless
involved.Studentsthatwereinvolvedinonlyoneprojectweremorelikelytobeknowledgeable
butnotchangehowtheyate.
Thedatawasselfreportedbythemiddleschoolstudentsthatparticipated.Therefore
therewasnoreliablemeasurement,instrumentation,issomethingthathastobetakeninto
consideration.Knowingthatnotallofthestudentsusedthesamemeasurementonwhatchanged
forthemorevenhowtheychanged.Studentsmighthavethoughttheyknewmorethantheydid
orthattheylearnedmorethantheyreallydid.Itisalmostimpossibletobecertainthatthe
outcomeisfactualbasedonwhatthestudentssaid,sinceweallhavedifferentopinionsonwhat
isahealthychangeandahealthychoice.
Parentswerenotreacheddirectlyduringthisstudy,showingselectionbias.Thereforejust
thestudentswerereached.Theyweretheonlyonesthatwerequestionedonwhatchangedand

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howtheireatingchanged.Sousingjustthismiddleschoolagegroup,generalizingthattheentire
populationwithinTexasmightbeconsumingdifferentamountsoffruitsandvegetables.Another
threattoexternalvaliditywouldbegeneralization.Theyonlyreachedouttothelowincome
communitiesandnototherdemographicareas.So,theygeneralizedthatthesecommunities
withinTexaswereabletolearnandsucceedfromtheprogram.Thisisalsoaselectionbias,
whichisaninternalthreat.Again,notusingalargerpercentageofcommunities,theyjusttook
fromlowincomeareas,whichcouldmajorlyaffecttheresultsthattheyreceived.

Article10
Nakano,T.,Kasuga,K.,Murase,T.,&Suzuki,K.(2013).Changesinhealthychildhoodlifestyle
behaviorsinJapaneseruralareas.JournalofSchoolHealth,83(4).Retrievedfrom
http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.library.lander.edu/ehost/detail/detail?
sid=5916dd02-6f47-46d3-b5ecafb432bff623%40sessionmgr4005&vid=0&hid=4207&bdata=JnNpdGU
9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=EJ1011290

Japanhasapublichealthproblemwithchildrenhavingunhealthylifestyles.This
studyhelpsconductlifestyleeducationforyoungchildren.Therewere2833studentsfromrural
areaswithinJapanfromelementaryandjuniorhighschoolsthatparticipatedinthisstudy.
Resultswerecomposedandbrokendownbydifferencesofgenderandgradelevel.Thestudy
resultedthatallchildrenneedmoretimelearninghowtomaintainhealthylifestyles.Thestudy
definesahealthylifestylebyhavingagooddietandgoodsleepinghabits.

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Astrengthofthisresearchistheamountofparticipantstheyusedandusingawide
varietyofages.Thishelpscreatelessofageneralizationandhelpsprovideevidencethat
studentsofvaryingagegroupsliveunhealthylifestyles.Questionnairesweregiventoeach
schoolanddatawascollected,about70%oftheparticipantsansweredthequestions.Guardians
andteacherswereabletohelpstudentscompletethequestionnaireinordertohelpkeepthe
findingsaccurate.Thishelpskeepthegeneralizationaspectofthisresearchtoaminimum.
Ihadtroublefindingthreatstovaliditywithinthisresearch.Theycompleteditwelland
wereabletofindevidencethatstudentsneedtobeeducatedmoreonwhathealthylifestyles
shouldlooklike,includingeatinghealthyandgettingaccurateamountsofsleep.Oneofthe
threatsmightbeseenisgeneralizationduetothisbeingdonewithinruralschools,sowe
generalizethatthisiswhatallstudentslooklike.Whenpossiblyruralstudentsmightgetbetter
sleeporeatdifferentlybecausetheyliveadifferentlifestylethanurbanchildren.

ResearchSynthesis
Educatingstudentsaboutwaystobecomehealthierandprovidingstudentswithhealthy
foodsarewayswecanhelpmaintainstudentslearningandhelpthemstayontask.Withoutgood
nutritionstudentswillfallbehindandnotmeetacademicstandards.Studieshavebeenconducted
allovertheworldandwemustpromotehealthintheclassroomandathome.Schoolshaveto
workwiththecommunityinorderfortheretobehealthyfamiliesbecauseeducatorsneedhelp
promotinghealthylifestyles.Thecommunityhastohelpprovideextraresourcestofamilies,
providingthemwithclassestolearnaboutthebenefitsofbeinghealthy,providingcouponsand

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foodthattheywilluse,andprovidinghelpeducatingthechildrenthattheycanbemore
successfuliftheytrytomakethehealthierlifestylechoices.Ibelievetherewillbemoreresearch
doneonthisbecausetheobesityepidemicisonlyrising.Studentsarebecomingunhealthierand
educatorsseethisaffectingthestudentsclassroomwork.Studentsarelazyandwouldpreferto
beentertainedatworktime;theywouldrathersit,thangetupmovearoundandmakegainson
theirown.Thisresearchhasproventhatwiththeacceptanceofthecommunityandtheirhelp,
whichfamiliesandstudentscanmakepositivegainsintheirlivesandeducationiftheychooseto
leadahealthierlifestyleandthatcanallstartbyeatinghealthier.
Itisimportanttokeepconductingresearchinthisfield,toprovidemoreevidence.Ifwe
couldnarrowdowntheresearchtojusthealthysnacking,orhealthyeatingandnotprovide
classesonteachingthemhowthisisgoodforthem.ThenIfeellikemoremightparticipate,if
theydidnothavetotakethetimetolearnaboutitandtheycouldjustseehowitaffectstheir
bodythroughtimeandhowitaffectstheirworkethicorprogressionintheclassroom.Students
goingwithoutamealcandecreasegradesdrasticallystatedbyPhillips(2006).Whenwecan
provideexamplesofhowthisisabeneficialprogramtoparentsandthecommunitywhywould
peoplenotwanttobeapartofamovementtohelpeducateourstudentsandmakethembetter
learners.