Thank you to everyone who supported the contest by sharing the word or submitting an entry. (We received more than 400 entries!) Congratulations to Pottstown High School as the winner of the Let’s Move! Active Schools LearnFit Essay Contest. Just as Pottstown High School takes a “whole body learning” approach, so too does the LearnFit adjustable standing desk, providing benefits to students’ physical health, mental health, social wellbeing and academic achievement.

Of particular interest in the Pottstown High School essay submission was the attention to the role of mental health in learning, citing a 2016 Pennsylvania Youth Survey of students in grades 6,8,10 & 12. Not only does mental health impact the current and future wellbeing of our youth, it also impacts classroom performance and attendance.  Research shows links between physical activity and mental health, so our aim is to provide students and educators with practical means to break up sedentary behavior that can contribute to debilitating metabolic and mental health issues.

Research also shows the link between low-level physical activity (LLPA) and metabolic health. By introducing standing into the classroom, students’ heart rates are kept higher, they burn more calories and they maintain muscle tone and insulin effectiveness. This translates to healthier, more engaged students with greater on-task behavior.

The amount of physical activity and physical education time is greatly reduced when students advance into secondary education. High schools are grossly underserved with physical activity outlets and external interventions. By supplying practical learning solutions to educators, our partnership provides students with the best opportunity to succeed. We believe that introducing low-level physical activity – in the form of LearnFit adjustable standing desks – into otherwise sedentary classrooms can make a difference.