Childhood obesity has been increasing rapidly, with the studies showing that about one-third of school-children in the U.S. are obese. One of the reasons for rising obesity rates can be attributed to lack of physical education in school. Instead of a compulsory physical education class, kids are made to concentrate more on academics,thereby, neglecting the important aspect of physical fitness.
Physical Education Neglected:
Less than 10 percent of the public schools in the US offer physical education classes. The number of physical education trainers are becoming fewer and fewer in schools. As a result, kids are more adept at academics, but they do not know the joy in participating in sports or playing with others.
The link between lack of physical education and obesity can be clearly seen. A child, when goes back home, is hooked on to video games or computers. The favorite hang-out place for children are fast-food joints, where high-calorie food is served. Added to this the heavy advertising of foods such as sodas, chips for kids aggravates the problem of obesity.
Elementary students need about 150 minutes of physical activity every week, while middle school and high school students need 225 minutes of physical activity a week. Few schools have realized this and they have started encouraging physical education classes. However, most of them fall behind when it comes to offering healthy play time for kids.
To tackle the problem of lack of physical education and obesity epidemic, parents can :
- Join their kids in sport clubs or encourage them to have a play time every day.
- Allow the kids to choose the physical activity or sport they like
- Have a play time with their kids and include sports or activities such as Frisbee, kick-ball or jump rope
- Ask the local community to provide recreational activities
- Parents can lead kids by example, by exercising themselves
Along with exercising, parents should make sure their kids have a healthy diet which includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Although lack of physical education is hurting the kids, parents can minimize the impact by encouraging kids to be physically active.
How Physical Education Addresses Obesity ?
Ignorance about the ill effects of leading a sedentary life style, is one of the culprits of rising number of childhood obesity cases in the United States. When parents find their children to be obese, they initial try out medications to curtail this physical disorder. Unfortunately, medicines further complicate the situation. Knowledge about the benefits of physical education can make the parents to motivate their obese child to be physically activate in novel ways.
Mildly obese children can join relatively rigorous physical activities like martial arts. The child can learn a self defence mechanism. It can bring self-discipline in him and rise the low self esteem too.
Extremely Obese children can be involved into physical activities in a phase wise manner. They should be assigned simple tasks at home so that they remain activate all the time. Slowly, they can be motivated to take up jogging and other physical activities. This will make them remain involved and feel less sorry about their physical state.
