If you are a parent, you want your child to do well in school and will do whatever you can to help him succeed. You buy him the supplies he needs, such as pens, pencils, and loose-leaf paper. You see to it that he has proper lighting to do his homework, and you go to parent-teacher conferences. You help him study and stay up late to help him with his science project. There is one more thing you can do to help your child do well. Help him to watch his weight by encouraging him to exercise. If he manages his weight, he can do well in school. If he does not manage his weight and allows himself to become obese, on the other hand, he may notice his grades dropping. Why might this happen?

One reason a child's grades might drop if he becomes obese is because he has less energy. More energy is required for him to move around. Therefore, he does not have enough energy left to do his schoolwork. He may begin getting low grades on tests if he does not have the energy to study for them.

Another reason why a child may begin getting low grades if he becomes obese is because he is suffering from low self-esteem as a result of gaining weight. He looks in the mirror and does not like what he sees. He feels as though his peers are rejecting him.

Both of these problems can be avoided if a child can avoid becoming obese. Everybody has foods he loves, whether it is macaroni and cheese or chocolate. Eating these foods too often can contribute to weight gain, however. If a child can learn to eat these foods just once in a while and can become more physically active, he will be able to manage his weight. By learning to manage his weight, he should notice his grades improving because he has more energy for his schoolwork. He will also feel better about himself and will likely be included in more activities at school, rather than being excluded from them because of a weight problem.

Help your child learn to manage his weight by helping him find an activity to get involved in. There are many to choose from, such as walking, running, rollerblading, or swimming. By learning to manage his weight, he will be happier, feel better, do better in school, and live longer.