ARCHBOLD WEATHER

AHS To Participate In U Of M Study




Archbold High School seniors are part of a long-running University of Michigan study of youth lifestyles.

The study, known as “Monitoring the Future,” has been going on for 37 years. Lloyd Johnston, a UM research scientist and professor, is principal investigator of the study.

The nationwide study surveys students in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades.

AHS seniors are scheduled to take the survey today, April 20, in the AHS gym.

Each year, about 400 schools from around the country are selected at random to participate in the survey. Once the information is analyzed, it is released to the press, school boards, and educators.

The survey asks students to “fill in the bubbles.” Researchers analyze the data. Topics

Johnston said the topics covered include substance abuse, such as drinking and smoking, behavioral issues such as exercise, foods consumed, and the amount of sleep.

“Kids are getting a lot less sleep,” Johnston said. Results

Over the years, the survey has discovered several trends.

“One of the things we did in the early 1990s was call the nation’s attention to the rapid increase in smoking among young people. It went up 50% between 1992 and 1996.

“Smoking has a dramatic impact on health,” he said.

“We identified what was happening that gave rise to a response from the President, the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) and state attorneys general.

“There was quite a dramatic impact. Now, we have the lowest rates of smoking since the study began 37 years ago,” he said.

The study has documented “the fairly steady increase in the number of teens who are overweight.”

Johnston said the surveys have shown that young people are eating fewer fresh fruits and vegetables, skipping breakfast, and getting less sleep– all factors that contribute to obesity.

“Next to smoking, obesity is the most preventable cause of death and disease.”



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