In today's society, the lack of health-related precautions and overall physical wellness has become a topic of particular interest spoken from the lips of politicians and health specialists alike. Perhaps the most prevalent of these issues, and oftentimes the most physically detrimental, pertains to the obesity epidemic in the United States, but more specifically, obesity in adolescents.
According to the health advocacy group MAHPERD (Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance), since the year 1970 the number of obese adolescents ranging 6 to 19 years of age has increased a staggering 300 percent. This unprecedented statistic most deffinately has a direct correlation between the severe lack of physical activity of adolescents (especially by failing to participate in physical education class), as well as the poor diet choices of our youth.
The unfortunate truth behind this epidemic is that oftentimes, physical education class accounts for the majority, if not all, of physical activity performed by adolescents. Therefore, by neglecting physical education, many children conduct little to no physical activity on a day-to-day basis. This sedentary lifestyle gives rise to many otherwise preventable diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and the long-term effects of obesity such as coronary heart disease, stroke and so forth.
The 2003 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey found that "during an average week 1/3 of students did not participate in a physical education class, and all measures of physical activity decreased with each grade level." Futhermore, the study concluded that, "youths who attended physical education class at least once a week were significantly more likely than their peers to have participated in regular vigorous physical activity, regular moderate physical activity, or muscle strengthening exercise." One particular piece of legislation proposed by Massachusetts senator Thomas M. McGee to put an end to this lack of participation proposed that physical education class at the elementary school level be conducted for a minimum of 150 minutes per week, and at least 225 minutes at the high school and middle school level. Though this seems like a daunting hurdle to overcome in the never-ending battle against obesity, it is a more than neccessary piece of the puzzle. After all, despite the costs of funding physical education appearing to be too expensive in the short-term scheme of things, there is no telling what the price of health care could potentially be when various obesity related ailments are introduced into the equation.
In this day and age in which unhealthy fast food vendors and sedentary-promoting elements such as video games and computers reign supreme among the youth of America, school systems must take every measure possible to ensure that everything in their power is done to promote mandatory physical activity and perhaps education on healthy nutrition. More often than not, physical education is taken far too lightly, and is typically one of the first programs to suffer when budgets within schools are decreased. However, the purpose of physical education is not merely to give kids an excuse to exercise, but rather is a tool for adolescents to develop healthy lifestyle changes that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
http://ma-hperd.org/index.html
According to the health advocacy group MAHPERD (Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance), since the year 1970 the number of obese adolescents ranging 6 to 19 years of age has increased a staggering 300 percent. This unprecedented statistic most deffinately has a direct correlation between the severe lack of physical activity of adolescents (especially by failing to participate in physical education class), as well as the poor diet choices of our youth.
The unfortunate truth behind this epidemic is that oftentimes, physical education class accounts for the majority, if not all, of physical activity performed by adolescents. Therefore, by neglecting physical education, many children conduct little to no physical activity on a day-to-day basis. This sedentary lifestyle gives rise to many otherwise preventable diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, and the long-term effects of obesity such as coronary heart disease, stroke and so forth.
The 2003 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey found that "during an average week 1/3 of students did not participate in a physical education class, and all measures of physical activity decreased with each grade level." Futhermore, the study concluded that, "youths who attended physical education class at least once a week were significantly more likely than their peers to have participated in regular vigorous physical activity, regular moderate physical activity, or muscle strengthening exercise." One particular piece of legislation proposed by Massachusetts senator Thomas M. McGee to put an end to this lack of participation proposed that physical education class at the elementary school level be conducted for a minimum of 150 minutes per week, and at least 225 minutes at the high school and middle school level. Though this seems like a daunting hurdle to overcome in the never-ending battle against obesity, it is a more than neccessary piece of the puzzle. After all, despite the costs of funding physical education appearing to be too expensive in the short-term scheme of things, there is no telling what the price of health care could potentially be when various obesity related ailments are introduced into the equation.
In this day and age in which unhealthy fast food vendors and sedentary-promoting elements such as video games and computers reign supreme among the youth of America, school systems must take every measure possible to ensure that everything in their power is done to promote mandatory physical activity and perhaps education on healthy nutrition. More often than not, physical education is taken far too lightly, and is typically one of the first programs to suffer when budgets within schools are decreased. However, the purpose of physical education is not merely to give kids an excuse to exercise, but rather is a tool for adolescents to develop healthy lifestyle changes that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
http://ma-hperd.org/index.html
5 comments:
What a shame how children are being the outcome of the school and district budget cuts. Children absolutely need P.E. in their day to keep them healthy, motivated and energized. Really hope that something can change and children can start doing physical education every day like they used to.
A bartender that I worked with is a phys ed teacher at a elementary school in Springfield and lost his job, but since he went to WSC, he found another one. It get's tougher and tougher every year to balance a budget.
I agree that there needs to be a mandatory physical education system in all schools and in every grade. I also believe that elementary students should have physical education numerous times in one week. I remember when I was in elementary school I only had physical education once a week or once every two weeks, and it was only for like a half an hour. That is not enough time for one class let alone one or two weeks. I believe that physical education class should be mandatory and as high and needed as the education classes like math and reading. Because when kids grow up what’s the use of knowing math or reading if you are going to be overweight, have diseases, or be very ill and never be able to use your other skills. In order to stop adult obesity we need to attack it when people are young and adolescents.
I feel as though children should have physical education alot more in school also. It's so sad that some children don't get alot if any physical education classes. I help out at my mom's work in New Bedford in the gym classes and I find it so sad that out of the 20 schools they have there are only 5 teachers and students may not have class for up to 3 weeks at points. Also, some of those classes are held in rooms smaller than dorm rooms its so sad that some schools don't even have the budget to help children to have this kind of eductation.
This article is so disturbing, but true. We all blame McDonald's and video games for obese children, but what kind of lessons are we teaching when we cut funding for physical education classes and health classes in trade for a budget for new technology in the schools. We can't break the epidemic if we don't do anything to help prevent it, and phys ed. classes are the perfect way to start. Children love to move around. Give them 45 minutes to play dodgeball and most of them will take it. Who likes to sit in a class room and hear about George Washington? Acedemic classes are very important, but what do they do for you when you can't even walk up one flight of stairs? Education on health and fitness sets us up for a lifetime.
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