Importance of Health Classes in Middle School

Teenage and high school years expose students to a number of risks that range from unprotected sex and drug experimentation to behavioral and mental disorders. Many middle schools treat health education as an elective subject and some districts facing budgetary deficits have opted to eliminate these courses. Advocates for restoring or mandating these programs stress the ability of a middle school health education to provide a foundation for a lifetime of good habits and attitudes.

Nutrition

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 18 percent of American school age students over 12 suffer from obesity. Middle school health classes can help correct this problem by teaching nutrition and healthy eating. Coursework that focuses upon the importance of calorie consumption, portion control and the food groups inform a student of the relationship between what they eat and how much they weigh, and also cover topics such as the importance of fruits and vegetables and maintaining a healthy diet. This information teaches children healthy eating habits that can help ensure a lifetime of better nutrition and health that is not plagued by obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes and chronic joint pain. A joint report by the American Cancer Society American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association states that learning proper nutrition habits can also help children avoid or minimize the risks of heart disease and certain types of cancer. These courses also teach middle school children to avoid unhealthy weight loss methods and drugs and alert them to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

Sex Education

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 800,000 high school girls become pregnant in the United States each year. Another 4 million teens contract a sexually transmitted disease, and that teenagers account for half of new HIV cases each year. Middle school health education courses help reduce the incidences of these social and medical problems by students safe-sex practices and alternatives to sex. Students in these classes can also learn the dangers of STDs and what factors increase their risk of exposure and transmission.

Healthy Habits

The American Cancer Society believes that middle school health programs can help a child develop positive, healthy lifestyle habits. Middle school health courses can alert students to the physical and mental dangers of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Students Against Destructive Decisions reports that by the time students reach high school, more than 37 percent of students have already tried alcohol, 44 percent of high school students have smoked cigarettes and 8 percent of students age 12 and older have experimented with drugs. Health education in middle school can focus on the dangers of drunk driving, teach students how consuming drugs and alcohol can increase their risk for other problems, such as STD exposure and unwanted pregnancy, and also educate kids in how to say no to peer pressure. Courses teach the warning signs of alcohol and drug dependence so that students can recognize these behaviors in themselves and their peers. Students also learn the dangers of violent behavior, risk-taking and how to recognize the early signs of depression and suicidal behavior.

Academic

A 2002 study commissioned by the Seattle & King County Public Health Department and Seattle Public Schools Health Services reported that children who face fewer or no health distractions learn better and perform better academically than students facing significant health issues. Through education, middle school health classes help students avoid many unhealthy activities and enable students to focus on learning.