| Responding
to the Obesity Epidemic
In the recently released A
Nation at Risk: Obesity in the United States it's reported that nearly one sixth of young people between
the ages of 2-19 are said
to be overweight. While this is alarming, it is perhaps even more
important to appreciate that the 16% overweight rate represents
the nationwide average. Local rates vary widely depending on gender,
race, socioeconomic status, educational background, and probably
more, as yet, undetermined factors.
Among Mexican Americans ages 6-19, nearly one in four boys, and
one in five girls are overweight. Over one fifth of African American
females ages 6-19 are overweight. Combining these figures with those
at risk for being overweight, we learn that excessive weight threatens
the health of between a third and a half of children in these groups.
And, the situation continues to worsen.
The current estimates is that obesity and its related illnesses
consume 12% of the nation's healthcare budget. Obesity has doubled
among children, and tripled among teens since 1980. We know that
today's children are more overweight than their parents were 25
years ago. We also know that these same adults are reportedly 65%
overweight or obese today. Absent some effective intervention, tomorrow's
adults will obviously be even more overweight.
Statistics are appalling. Today, the personal, social, and financial
impact of children's obesity is tragic. Tomorrow, we will face a
crisis - a time bomb - on an as-yet unrecognized scale. And what's
easily overlooked among the myriad of health statistics is that
none of us will be immune from obesity's impact.
As today's adults move towards retirement we can anticipate the
following: an explosive increase in health care costs; difficulties
finding doctors now overwhelmed by the rise in obesity related illnesses;
increased waiting time for medical services; fewer vacancies in
understaffed retirement or long-term care facilities; and perhaps
most distressing of all, the need to care for a new generation of
adults too sick to properly care for their children, themselves,
or their aging parents -- us.
What can be done? We currently have a complex array of federal,
state, local, and charitable health-promoting organizations attacking
obesity from different directions. Since we clearly don't know the
best solution, and it's conceivable there is no best solution, maybe
this approach will eventually work. But the lack of coordination
is worrying. It's hard to imagine how we can possibly solve the
health threat we currently face without a coordinated and aggressive
nationwide campaign. Fortunately, there is at least an obvious,
coordinated role that today's physical educators can play in combating
this desperate scenario.
 With the exception of parents, public school physical educators
are
better positioned than all other adults to impact the health of
young
people. Most of the nation's children attend public schools and
participate regularly in our classes. It's easy to complain that
limited class time with large groups of students impedes our
effectiveness. But in reality, even 30 minutes or an hour spent
in
daily PE would not by itself change the obesity crisis. Children's
obesity can only be reduced through lifestyle changes. Ways must
be
found to integrate habitual physical activity and good nutrition
into
our students' daily lives. What our students do outside of class
is
in reality more important than what they do while they are with
us in
the gym.
The role of the 21st century public school physical educator must
change if we want different results. Rather than be simply teachers,
physical educators have to transform themselves into school physical
activity facilitators and healthy eating advocates. This includes
targeting the spare time before school, during recess, and after
school for physical activity. It means recruiting classroom teachers
to help share responsibility for their students' health. With two
out of every three adults overweight, participation in school-based
health-promoting physical activity stands to benefit everyone.
The sedentary school day needs changing. While we await stronger
evidence proving the connection between health and academic
performance, our classroom colleagues need little convincing that
regular physical activity breaks would improve the learning
environment. Every adult knows that taking short breaks improves
productivity. It's not hard to figure out that keeping young people
sitting for long periods of time is not the best way to get them
to
learn. But what can classroom teachers do when they don't have access
to a gym or equipment, and in many cases have minimal knowledge
about
leading physical activity? They need help, and who better to train
and guide them than public school physical educators.
What our students do after school demands special attention because
it's then that young people have the most time to develop the habit
of being physically active or sedentary. Too many people in positions
of leadership fail to recognize that the vast majority of today's
young people do not have parents with the resources, time, and motivation
to get them into health-promoting physical activities. It's popular,
especially among the white middle class, to argue that this is a
parental responsibility. It's certainly debatable. But let's remind
ourselves of who's going to pay later for the health consequences
when it doesn't happen.
Risking charges of heresy, perhaps physical educators should also
step up to suggest that extracurricular and athletic programs refocus
on the goals that originally justified their inclusion in our school
programs. Contrary to what has become widely accepted policy, extracurricular
and athletic programs were not established to serve the already
skilled, and exclude those most in need of instruction. They were
never intended to entertain parents and the local community. Today,
thousands of teens are turned off of sports and opportunities for
regular physical activity through the rejection of being cut from
school-sponsored athletics. Small wonder they grow up to loath physical
activity!
In this New Year, there are many ways physical educators can step
up to join the assault on obesity. While as individuals we may not
be able to alter the impact of obesity nationwide, we can do much
to positively change the lives of the children and teens in the
communities in which we live and teach. In 2006, let's commit ourselves
to finding ways to revitalize physical education and help to create
a brighter future for our children.
 Very
Best New Year Wishes, 
Steve Jefferies, Publisher
PELINKS4U
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