Oops, We've Done It Again

In an article titled "Americans Are Losing the War on Obesity," author Michael Torchia informs us that the Children's Fitness Academy (CFA) is concerned about an "anti-anti-obesity" backlash. (Yes, you read that right.)

According to the piece, our politicians' harsh policies and extreme measures designed to reduce obesity are creating a negative sentiment among the American public as they grow weary of more intrusive policies. Of particular concern to the CFA -- and the reason I'm writing this -- is "a proliferation of unfortunate school-based anti-obesity policies throughout America. These include fitness testing, lunch box inspections by teachers, mandatory weighing of students, banning of particular kinds of food at school celebrations and remedial physical activity for students who do not meet prescribed fitness or weight standards."

The article goes on to say that "CFA's main concern is that the intensity of talk about childhood obesity and the zeal of some physical activity advocates mean that many children will experience physical activity as, at best, medicine and, at worst, punishment. Children's Fitness Academy has discovered growing evidence in developed countries that the focus on obesity has sidelined good-quality PE lessons, with teachers instead putting children through overly strenuous 'huff and puff' fitness classes."

If this is indeed the case, then let me add my name to the list of those who are concerned. As anyone familiar with developmentally appropriate physical education can tell you, the goal of PE is to promote fitness for life. And the only way that's going to happen is if we ensure children never lose their initial, natural love of movement -- so they'll always want to stay physically active! If physical activity becomes drudgery rather than fun, children are going to stop moving as soon as the choice is theirs to make!

Why is it we can never seem to do anything in moderation? To find the balance between extremes? The CFA urges a more "holistic approach" to combating the obesity epidemic. I couldn't agree more.

Comments

[Courtney]

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/healthy-living/weight-management/obesity-epidemic?ipc=B00162

It's not just children who are losing this battle. Their parents have been steadily gaining weight as well.

[rae]

Thanks, Courtney! I encourage readers to check out the website included with comment!

[Kelly Bliss]

As long as we keep waging a war on obesity (for kids or adults), we are ADDING to the problem, not solving it!

We need to make peace with our bodies with self-care and self-appreciation INDEPENDENT OF WEIGHT!

Please see my full article on this subject here: http://www.kellybliss.com/lifestyle_coaching/real_problem.php

Be well,
Kelly Bliss

[rae]

Thanks for contributing to the dialog, Kelly. As a person who prefers to think in terms of "peace" rather than "anti-war," I see your point. I'm not sure, however, if people would be taking the problem seriously if we weren't using words like "obesity" and "crisis." They say it takes so many viewings of a commercial before people really notice it, and it seems to me it's taken many years for people to finally accept that we have a real problem with children's weight/health. I'm all in favor of thinking "fitness first," but I'm also in favor of anything that gets our children healthier!

[Phil Lawler]

The good news is there is a model PE program that has not gone overboard and every school in the country should be adopting the philosophy. The program is called PE4life.

We have amazing data backing up our efforts. In a school district with 20,000 students we tested 1500 freshman and the rate of overweight and obese was 3% (national average is 35%)

We also just completed a cutting edge pilot program with Dr John Ratey top brain research specialist from Harvard. We improved math and reading scores using a PE class called Learing Readiness PE.

Finally in an urban school in Kansas City we put in a PE4life progam and they school saw a 63% decrease in disciplinary referrals to the main office. Also students recorded a 200% improvement in cardiovascular fitness.

Go to www.pe4life.org for more info