The "medicine" of exercise and diet

Lesson Plans by subject

Overview:What is Type 2 diabetes? Can exercise and diet impact the course of Type 2 diabetes and other illnesses? Challenge students to examine how regular physical activity, coupled with low-fat foods, can impact people's weight, fitness levels and even medical conditions.

Curriculum connections: Health, physical education

Objectives
Students will be able to:

• Identify and list the benefits of exercise and diet and their relationship to healthy lifestyles.
• Describe the impact of exercise and diet on Type 2 diabetes.
• Research and assess the impact of exercise and diet on common ailments.
• Design treatment plans for chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

Standards
Mid Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL)
Health Standard 1: Students know the availability and effective use of health services, products, and information
Standard 6: Students understand essential concepts about nutrition and diet
Standard 7: Students know how to maintain and promote personal health
Standard 8: Students know essential concepts about the prevention and control of disease

Physical Education
Standard 3: Understands the benefits and costs associated with participation in physical activity
Standard 4: Understands how to monitor and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness

Materials
CNNfyi.com article, "Diet, exercise can slash diabetes risk"
Internet access
Health, fitness, and disease-specific magazines and journals
List of local organizations that focus on common illnesses

Suggested time
Article and questions only - 20 minutes
Full lesson plan - Two to three classroom periods

Procedures
1) Have students divide a sheet of paper into two columns, one labeled exercise and the other diet. In each column, students should list five to 10 benefits of each category. As a class, have students review their lists to identify common factors for each category. Ask students: How might these activities/benefits affect people living with chronic and terminal illnesses? Do you know of anyone for whom exercise and diet changed the status of an ailment?

2) Direct students to read the CNNfyi.com article, "Diet, exercise can slash diabetes risk" and then respond to the following questions:

• What age group and populations are most affected by Type 2 diabetes? According to the new diabetes study, what can reduce the risk of this type of diabetes? Why are these activities considered an alternative drug treatment?
• How many participants were in the diabetes program? How were they divided? What were the daily activities of the participants in the lifestyle intervention group? What were the results of this regime?
• What does this combination of exercise and diet suggest about medical treatments and health care costs? Do you think this study will lead Americans to adopt healthier lifestyles? Discuss.

Assessment
Have each group assume the role of a member of an organization that represents its illness. Instruct each group to develop a treatment plan that incorporates the use of exercise, diet and medications. Direct students to include the following information in their plans: the type of disease and its common characteristics, people typically affected by the disease (age, ethnicity, gender, etc.), common treatments, studies showing successful treatments and a recommended course of action. Have each group present its treatment plan at a mock national forum for medical providers.

Accommodations
Students can construct a timeline showing the treatment progression of a specific illness over the last 50 years.

Challenge
Point out to students that, in many instances, there is debate regarding the treatment of chronic and terminal illnesses. Should traditional or non-traditional medical approaches be used? Should there be a combined approach to treating diseases? Should people do without drugs and rely on improving their lifestyles to remain healthy and prevent a disease's progression? Have students conduct research on an illness to identify the various ways the medical profession, patients, etc., approach its treatment. After students share their findings, have them draw conclusions about what treatment approaches work best.