High School Grades Linked to Healthy, Unhealthy Behaviors

Source: American Council on Science and Health
Published: Sep 7, 2017
Author: Alex Berezow
Post Date: 2017-09-09 22:01:39 by Tooconservative
Views: 5023

As far back as middle school or even grade school, it was relatively easy to determine which students would grow up to make something of themselves and which would not. A person from my 4th grade class who we all knew was trouble was recently sentenced to nine years in jail for stealing a state vehicle. It's doubtful that anybody is surprised.

Though there clearly are exceptions, the general rule is that good, well behaved students have a better chance at success than bad, poorly behaved students. But success isn't the only thing that matters. Health does, too, and new data on high school students from the CDC shows a consistent link between a student's grades and healthy or unhealthy behaviors.

Does Unhealthy Behavior Cause Bad Grades?

It's important to note that this study, which is cross-sectional in nature, does not determine causation. It cannot be declared, for instance, that healthy behaviors (e.g., eating breakfast and exercising) cause a student to get good grades. Conversely, it cannot be concluded that unhealthy behaviors (e.g., smoking pot and engaging in unprotected sex) cause bad grades. It is reasonable to suspect, however, that grades and lifestyle choices reinforce one another.

Additionally, a third factor is probably the best explanation: Responsibility. Responsible students get good grades and live a healthy lifestyle; irresponsible students get bad grades and make poor lifestyle choices. (Responsibility, in turn, is affected by home life, socioeconomic status, and culture, among other factors.)

With that caveat in mind, some of the behavioral patterns among good and bad students is striking. (See chart below, which is adapted from CDC data. The CDC assessed 30 different behaviors, but only the most intriguing ones are shown below. Note that confidence intervals have been omitted for simplification.)

Students who make mostly A's are nearly 2.5 times more likely to eat breakfast every day than students who make mostly D's/F's. They are also more likely to be physically active. On the flip side, students who make mostly D's/F's are more likely to watch too much TV, drink, smoke pot, and have sex. They are nearly four times more likely to attempt suicide than A students.

What is also striking is the clear gradient that occurs for each behavior: A students make better choices than B students, B students make better choices than C students, and C students make better choices than D/F students.

The takeaway message is that a high school student who makes bad grades is not only setting himself up for professional failure; he is also likely making lifestyle choices that will put him on a course to bad health.

Source: Rasberry CN, Tiu GF, Kann L, et al. "Health-Related Behaviors and Academic Achievement Among High School Students — United States, 2015." MMWR 66 (35): 921-927. Published: 8-Sept-2017. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6635a1.

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#1: buckeroo    To: Tooconservative, misterwhite (#0)

High School Grades Linked to Healthy, Unhealthy Behaviors

At least High School students that failed civics and history had exposure to the US Constitution and the historical background of tyranny from a corrupt government.

I doubt misterwhite even attended High School and therefore has no grades at all to reflect even a glance towards the Declaration of Independence, since his systematic emphasis about empowering the police state is riddled throughout each and every post she/he/it makes.

buckeroo posted on 2017-09-10 10:17:15   Reply   Private Reply


#2: misterwhite    To: buckeroo (#1)

I doubt misterwhite even attended High School

You're right. I skipped it and went straight to college.

misterwhite posted on 2017-09-10 10:34:46   Reply   Private Reply


#3: misterwhite    To: Tooconservative (#0)

It cannot be declared, for instance, that healthy behaviors (e.g., eating breakfast and exercising) cause a student to get good grades.

Really? Because that's what we were told by those advocating for the free school lunch program. And the free school breakfast program. And the free school dinner program.

Maybe we should go back to the old-fashioned program of parents providing for their children. They can use their food stamp money for actual food.

misterwhite posted on 2017-09-10 10:48:40   Reply   Private Reply


#4: buckeroo    To: misterwhite (#2)

I skipped it [High School] and went straight to college.

Still, your posts strongly suggest that you did not study the foundations of America. Your love for the UBER [STATE] ALLES is a strong indication of failure. Do you also suffer major medical issues?

buckeroo posted on 2017-09-10 11:23:22   Reply   Private Reply


#5: misterwhite    To: buckeroo (#4)

Do you also suffer major medical issues?

None of them mental.

"Still, your posts strongly suggest that you did not study the foundations of America."

Not only studied but agreed with. You're the anarchist, not me.

misterwhite posted on 2017-09-10 11:30:50   Reply   Private Reply


#6: buckeroo    To: misterwhite (#5)

Well ... lets get to the common denominator of our erstwhile disagreements: you exalt increased oversight by a useless government and I don't. Within your passion for the police state to protect us, you want increased tax revenues to manifest this horrid ambition. I don't.

I want less taxes, fewer restraints and just enough to protect us from foreign and domestic enemies, such as yourself.

buckeroo posted on 2017-09-10 11:36:46   Reply   Private Reply


#7: misterwhite    To: buckeroo (#6)

you exalt increased oversight by a useless government and I don't.

Nope. I expect state and federal governments to always act within their constitutional boundaries.

So do you -- except in those areas where you disagree with the law. That makes you an anarchist. But you justify it by believing that the government is acting unconstitutionally.

That may make perfect sense to you, but that's not how it works.

misterwhite posted on 2017-09-10 11:45:17   Reply   Private Reply


#8: buckeroo    To: misterwhite (#7)

The US Government *IS* acting unconstitutionally with every passing day; this includes both measurable domestic and international performance characteristics that the US Government exudes on a daily basis.

The US Government no longer cares or even deals with tax reform or federal debt reduction. But you say that whatever the US Government enacts as law is not to be questioned but rather obeyed.

Earlier, in one of your posts, you had the audacity to claim you had no mental problems. I say you are a mental case, BIG_TYME!

buckeroo posted on 2017-09-10 11:53:29   Reply   Private Reply


#9: misterwhite    To: buckeroo (#8)

But you say that whatever the US Government enacts as law is not to be questioned but rather obeyed.

Don't misquote me. Final warning. You'll join the list.

I said I expected state and federal governments to always act within their constitutional boundaries. The way our government is set up, if the U.S. Supreme Court says it's constitutional, it is. Even if buckeroo says it isn't.

misterwhite posted on 2017-09-10 12:12:36   Reply   Private Reply


#10: buckeroo    To: misterwhite (#9)

... where you disagree with the law. That makes you an anarchist. But you justify it by believing that the government is acting unconstitutionally. == misterwhite post#7

Go FUCK YOURSELF.

buckeroo posted on 2017-09-10 12:16:35   Reply   Private Reply


#11: Vicomte13    To: misterwhite (#9)

The way our government is set up, if the U.S. Supreme Court says it's constitutional, it is.

Yep, for better or for worse, that IS the way our government is set up.

Vicomte13 posted on 2017-09-11 06:44:04   Reply   Private Reply


#12: misterwhite    To: Vicomte13 (#11)

Yep, for better or for worse, that IS the way our government is set up.

Yep. And for those who object, I have one question: If not the USSC interpreting the U.S. Constitution, then who should have the final say-so?

misterwhite posted on 2017-09-11 09:40:54   Reply   Private Reply


#13: Vicomte13    To: misterwhite (#12)

Yep. And for those who object, I have one question: If not the USSC interpreting the U.S. Constitution, then who should have the final say-so?

I should, obviously.

Vicomte13 posted on 2017-09-11 10:02:48   Reply   Private Reply