Prevention Matters

The Boston Globe reports how local schools are boosting the physical activity of its students at recess to help curb childhood obesity, and in the process are discovering some unintended benefits.

Conservatory Lab Charter School and other elementary schools around the area are bringing in leaders — often college athletes — to organize more vigorous recess activities like kickball, tag and Hula-Hooping.

“Now there is zero inactivity and almost zero incidents of discipline problems on the playground,” says Annie Sevelius, codirector at Conservatory Lab. “We hardly have any fights. Before, there were skirmishes, arguing, grabbing, and trash-talking.”