Obesity

Lisa has been suffering with obesity since she was 12 now at 17 she weighs approximately 440 pounds. She was known as the freak of every school she attended. Due to depression, anxiety and agoraphobia (The fear of wide open spaces, crowds or uncontrolled social conditions.), caused by the rest of her classmates she was forced to drop out of school. Children like these are all across America. Food industries are provoking them to eat more with their tasty, one-dollar menus. One of the areas that need to be given more importance in the fight against obesity is physical education: from elementary throughout high school. Obesity is a disease that is common in America; it usually starts in the elementary age. Physical education not only helps to prevent obesity but also increases self-confidence. It is proven that most students who stick to the physical education plan are more successful academically.

There is a need for effective strategies that will curve the actual trend of obesity because of the impact that obesity has both individually and collectively (health, cost on health services, labor). Diets alone or with the use of medications have not given good results and less if this is started after the person is obese. It is very important to begin at an early age and create a routine that can be followed for a whole life.

According to Kiess et al., in their book Obesity in childhood and adolescence, obesity is a common disorder amongst our society today. It is caused by many factors, including excessive caloric intake, genetic influences, and a lack of physical activity. Different types of food, -mainly carbohydrates, fats and proteins- provide the major sources of energy the body needs to function. If there is an incorrect balance of these elements and if the energy input (intake of food) is greater than the energy expenditure (physical activity), the result will quite surely be obesity at a young age that may cause permanent self-esteem problems throughout a person’s life. Excess body fat will be stored in the fat cells, causing obesity. Obesity alone may not be life threatening, but research has proven that an obese person is more likely to develop a life threatening disease than a person of normal weight. Added to this, the indoor activities so common in our western society generally do not burn as much energy as outdoor activities resulting in more energy being retained as fat cells. (Kiess 112)

According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, statistics show that 66% of Americans are obese. Obesity is differentiated from overweight in that the former is an abnormally high proportion of body fat and the latter “excess of body weight compared to set standards… [Which may] come from muscle, bone, fat or body water (Statistics related 1, 3).

Obesity and overweight are a growing problem. “Over the last two decades, the rates for overweight children have doubled, so that today one-third of children in the United States are overweight.” This means that out of every 15 kids in an average elementary class, 5 will be diagnosed with overweight. Possible explanations for the increase in obese persons are: more fast-food availability and advertisement and more sedentary diversions. This is why the American Heart Association (AHS) in every state and at federal level requires that quality physical education be offered in all grades, and enforcing that “successfully completing PE [to be] a requirement for high school graduation.” Unfortunately the AHS has little power and cannot pass this law to the entire nation (Physical Education 1).

In most school districts, physical education funding is the first to be cut. When attending class after physical education, it makes the students brain more stimulated helping them to retain more knowledge. Physical activity increases the child’s muscle tone, improves respiration and circulation, benefits digestion, aids highly in controlling obesity, promotes rehabilitation after illness and surgery, and stimulates proper growth and development.

Children who are induced to like physical education act differently. “Physically fit students are less likely to miss school, partake in risky behaviors, get pregnant, or attempt suicide.” SPARK, a 2-year physical education program on physical activity and fitness, selected seven schools to undergo their experiment where, “health-related physical education was taught by [a] physical education specialist” to a selected group of students, then compared to those in regular classes. The Public Health Association concluded that, “improved physical education classes potentially benefits 97% of elementary school students. They also conclude that physical education does help decrease stress, and improve academic rates.”(Sallis) Between the ages of 9-10 a scholastic and global self-esteem score was not significantly different, but after a 4-year period, obese children who did not enroll in physical education showed “significantly decreased levels of self-esteem” (Strauss).

“56% of adults with children in the household say that their child does not have physical class daily”

The Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine intervened in 5 different schools. “The intervention reduced television hours… and increased fruit and vegetable consumption,” in addition to the extracurricular activities. Planet health concluded, “Obesity among girls in [intervened] schools was reduced” (1).

A great challenge is in convincing teachers and parents on the importance of exercise. “Teachers [should be] required to concentrate on the physical aspects,” commented Anthony Laker in his book