The Triangle

Issue date: 5/15/09 Section: Ed-Op

Media Credit: Chris Pedota The Record/MCT

Gym class. The words bring a shudder to students of all ages and bring back memories of tiny black shorts and awkward moments in the showers - and that's just the guys. Yet as more funding is given to schools across the board, and as schools are being held to a higher standard of intellectual prowess, we must compare the effectiveness of our physical education. The results are abysmal. Childhood obesity is on the rise without a doubt. The rate of obesity among children, defined as people between the ages of 6 and 11, has risen from 6.5 percent to 17 percent in the last 20 years. This is despite the fact that spending in all facets of education has increased on a federal, state and local level as sited by the Department of Education. Yet children are still becoming unhealthier. What's clear is that is a side effect of a larger problem. The real cause of this rise in obesity in children, as well as the rise of asthma and diabetes, can be traced to a movement towards a sedentary lifestyle promoted through our technology. If a solution is to be offered, the most effective one is probably to try and promote healthy diets and bring back an appreciation of physical activity.

The first thing that needs to be mentioned is the old adage "You are what you eat" and from what the average child eats I would say most kids are just artificial sweeteners: fat and preservatives with enough caffeine to keep an elephant awake for a week. Between fast food, and microwavable dinners, healthy food has been relegated to a subculture or to the fringes. Buying fresh food and cooking your own dinner shouldn't be a special occasion but a basic. If you look for it, there are a plethora of recipes and places to buy fresh food no matter where you are (for those who live in Philadelphia there is an open air farmers market every Saturday morning in Rittenhouse Square) as well as simply buying organic or natural foods when grocery shopping.

The other issue is that people don't enjoy their bodies anymore. This sounds ridiculous but as more people can live vicariously through the Internet and the media they begin to ignore or even loathe their bodies. The ridiculous standards of beauty being upheld can't be healthy and may convince people who have a genetic disposition for greater weight not to even try to remain healthy. The truth is that movement is fun, and that when we are born we are almost always eager to crawl about and explore. It is only when we have boundaries set up that we learn not to move and to try not to. Instead of trying to fund more forced exercise in schools, we should remind children of how much fun playing around can be. Joining a private sporting group or club could be a great way to do this. For example the New York Sports Clubs and Snapple promoted healthy childhood activity by hosting a 24-hour Saints and Spinners run January 18th to raise money to put Health Corps Curriculums in five more schools in each of New York's boroughs.

The responsibility ultimately falls to the parents and the way they show children how to view physical activities. Instead of preaching about health, adults must lead by example. The only thing at stake is our health and that of the next generation. After all, you can go for that walk with your little sister later.



David Youseff is a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering. He can be reached at op-ed@thetriangle.org.

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