CDC Report Shows Encouraging Health Trend in Schools

Schools across America may be going in a healthier direction, according to a federal report released Monday.

The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that based on a comprehensive survey of school health policies, encouraging trends are showing better nutrition, physical and educational hopes for children.

"Schools play a critical role in the health and well-being of our youth," CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said in an agency news release. "Good news for students and parents -- more students have access to healthy food, better physical fitness activities through initiatives such as 'Let's Move,' and campuses that are completely tobacco-free."

The latest report looked at a 2012 survey of school health policies used to help promote health trends. They were used to assess eight areas including physical education and activity, health services, social services, nutrition services, healthy, safe school environment and staff health promotion. The report breaks everything down into three reports, looking at nutrition, physical education, and tobacco use.

Physical education showed that from 2000 to 2012, there was an 11 percent increase in exercise.

Researchers also found three major trends among nutritional information between 2006 and 2012, including the amount of sodas allowed in school and soft drinks advertised. The amount of beverages advertised in school settings decreased from 47 percent to 33.5 percent. Findings also showed the number of school districts that started banning junk food rose from 30 to 43 percent. Lastly, from 2000 to 2012, districts that provided families with nutritional information regarding school meals also rose from 35 to 53 percent, according to Counsel and Heal.

And the number of school districts that enforced harsher laws regarding tobacco use increased from 47 percent to 67.5 percent.

Overall, the new data could show promising results for the future of children's nutritional benefits in a school setting. Click here for the full report.