Effect of Nutrition and exercise on our body

Eating a healthy balanced diet accompanied by regular exercise is essential in maintaining physical and mental health and well-being. Not only are these effective in preventing excess weight gain or in maintaining weight loss, but healthy lifestyles are also associated with improved sleep and good mood. Physical activity particularly improves brain-related functions and outcomes.

Staying healthy is at the top of nearly everyone’s priority list, and our daily choices can determine just how healthy we are. Not everything is in our control, but the habits and approaches we take to our health can often make a difference between being healthy and unhealthy.

Two areas we have the most control over are our diet and exercise. These can both have huge effects on our overall health, and can be some of the main factors in preventing disease and other complications later in life.

The fundamental cause of  weight gain and obesity is an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure.

Obesity levels remain worryingly high, with nearly 30% of the global population being overweight or obese. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, this figure is set to rise to almost half of the world’s adult population by 2030.

Excess weight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders (particularly osteoarthritis) and some cancers. The risk also rises with an increase in body mass index (BMI) and age.

CISS MYP 4 students in Ms. Ghazala Sajid’s class are exploring about cells- what are different types of cells, what do they do and how do Scientists study something too small to see.

The unit “Cells and Body Systems” introduces students to the basics of cells and emphasizes microscope skills to get them up close and personal with the cells around and inside them. Students learnt that cells aren’t just the basis of life, they are the basis of Biological Learning and they are organized to form even more complex structures like Tissues, Organs, Systems and Organisms.

Recently, students have been exploring different systems working together in a human body, for example- Digestive System. They acquired knowledge of different organs associated with Digestive System. 

Related to Digestive System, students learnt about what are healthy foods and how they can keep themselves fit and healthy by eating those foods. 

Students completed an Inter Disciplinary Unit (IDU) Assessment with PHE to create a Balanced Diet Plan along with Exercise and Workout Plan to keep themselves healthy (Science) and Fit (PHE) at the same time. 

For this purpose, Students created a journal based on their current habits that detailed their original nutrition and activity tracking, their new goals with scientific justifications, personal reflections and societal implications of following the plans. 

Throughout this assessment, students synthesized the knowledge they have gained about the importance of Balanced Diet and Exercise both from PHE and Science classes.