NEAT

From: John Hernried, M.D.

      

NOTE: PLEASE READ THIS ENTRY WHILE STANDING UP

While my professional focus is on the treatment of adult obesity, I am interested in efforts to prevent obesity in childhood.  There has been considerable discussion how to make children more active.  I know firsthand what a challenge this is..  In my family, we really have to “work at” keeping my boys physically active. Organized sports may not be the only solution.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are looking into changing the classroom to allow children to have purposeful activity while they are learning.   It is a fascinating story of collaboration and use of technology to create a classroom that has children standing and moving most of the day.  The details include:

• Video-streamed "pod-casting" as a teaching aid

• "Learn 'n Move" bays -- a step beyond traditional learning stations

• Wireless technology

• Personalized laptop computers

• An earpiece that measures physical activity of the student

• Vertical magnetic work spaces that double as projection screens

• Innovative telemetry that collects data for scientific comparison

• Personalized white boards (instead of one large blackboard for a room)

• "Standing" desks -- where the children will stand and work, rather than sit

For details and more photos, please see this Mayo Clinic link.

The concept behind this “Classroom of the Future” is a concept called N.E.A.T.  This stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis. It is the number of calories burned during our daily activity at home and work.  By standing up and reading this blog, you are increasing your NEAT. With modern technology (remote controls, automated vacuums, working at a computer rather than a factory line) we burn about 100-200 fewer NEAT calories than we used to.  This may account for some of the obesity epidemic. 

We always think we have to run marathons to keep our weight down.  But there is some evidence NEAT actually decreases as we exercise more.  The result is that for some people, they may still gain weight while they exercise. Not to be discouraged. At OTC, we are looking at ways to measure NEAT and planned physical activity to best help our patients.

I can only hope there is a “classroom of the future” for my sons in the near future. 

Comments

[Aron]

At you the excellent site, a lot of useful info and good design, thank.

[Aron]

At you the excellent site, a lot of useful info and good design, thank.