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overweight kids
- Thread starter corndogggy
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Beagle1
New member
This is a pretty good article, though some of the stats are kind of confusing (I don't think the author quite understands the difference between percent and percentile.... but that's just nitpicking). While it is really sad that only one state mandate physical education, I think we need to take a further step beyond making phys. ed. mandatory - teach your kids to enjoy physical activities before they even get to school. One of the things I've learned in my developmental psychology classes at school is that the earlier kids start learning something, the more it sticks with them. Why wait until they're 6 put them in a cold and frequently understocked gym and force them to play games that often aren't that fun unless you already enjoy activity? I remember when I was in elementary I *hated* gym class for any number of reasons. But if you take a toddler to the park every weather-permitting day, or find fun ways to be active around the house, and they grow up with an attitude of activity being fun, then it's much less likely to become something that they just drop the very second they no longer have to keep it up. I didn't have to take gym after grade 10, and you know what? I never did, and neither did any of my friends - the only ones who did were the ones who already enjoyed sports.
But then again, I'm of the opinion that an increasing number of parents really don't like parenting at all and try to make it the responsibility of just about everyone else - the education system, the television, the government.... so maybe making it government mandated anyways is still a good way about it.
But then again, I'm of the opinion that an increasing number of parents really don't like parenting at all and try to make it the responsibility of just about everyone else - the education system, the television, the government.... so maybe making it government mandated anyways is still a good way about it.
Force kids to exercise?
How many of us were 'forced' to take gym in school? I was until I was 16 and it was the most miserable memories I have.
Unless these classes are restructered a lot, it won't work.
We have to exercise because we want to, not because we're forced into gymnasium with 30 other kids and berated because we're too fat to do a push up or pull up.
The only thing these classes, as they are, do is drive kids further away from physical activity and back to the video games.
How many of us were 'forced' to take gym in school? I was until I was 16 and it was the most miserable memories I have.
Unless these classes are restructered a lot, it won't work.
We have to exercise because we want to, not because we're forced into gymnasium with 30 other kids and berated because we're too fat to do a push up or pull up.
The only thing these classes, as they are, do is drive kids further away from physical activity and back to the video games.
KissMyHuman
New member
But does it really matter if we aren't teaching these kids nutrition on top of it? They may have ran track for an hour but it doesn't do much when they start the day with brown sugar pop tarts, a cheese and bean burrito for lunch, half a bowl of cheez-its when they get home, and drink two 20oz sodas a day.
When i was in grammar school - phys ed was mandatory - and 1/2 the year it was the Presidents Physical Fitness Challenge - having to do x amount of situps and push ups in x amount of time - being able to run x fast... it was awful - and I learned to dread it -because I was being compared to others who were more physically fit than others and there was nothing in it to help me get better.
In high school, as long as I played a varsity sport, gym was optional - I played field hockey, softball, and swam... and was pretty good at all three (in fact went to college on a partial scholarship for athletics so i know I didn't suck) Field hockey and softball - wind sprints were common thing - I wasn't the fastest runner on the team but I did Ok.. By the time I was a senior the rules were changed and I had to take gym class -and we were eback to the president's physical fitness challenge again - and mental block for me? i was 9 years old again and still couldn't run fast or do the right amount of sit ups.. (and in high school I was in pretty good shape)
Mandatory gym class i think more people have horror stories of than good memories of... I would hate to see kids subjected to the teasing because they can't run fast or do pushups... it just turns them off to exercise completely.
When I was a kid - and granted i"m older than dirt and it was a different time - 4 channels on television - no remote controls - no vcrs - atari wasn't released until i was in junior high or high school - but my family didn't have it.. Staying in the house was unheard of - short of a electical storms we were outside from sunup to sunset and beyond (chasing lightening bugs was cool evening activity) We were active... my nieces and nephews (none who are overweight but have horrible habits) would prefer to play a video game than go outside and do something... these kids are headed for trouble someday...
Yup. I had mandatory gym class until high school....and it was such an unpleasant experience it totally turned me off exercise through most of my adult years.
Llamabean
New member
I too have horrible memories of gym. I was so bad that I became paired with another girl and we were traded as one person for the purposes of making the teams even. "I'll give you Ann and Ashley for Jennifer?" "NO WAY!"
I was blessed with a compassionate gym teacher though - I'm not sure I could have made it through if she had been mean. As I look back on it, she was especially kind considering I could barely disguise my loathing for her class.
I wouldn't worry about the video games. Video games are helping our children become quite deft thinkers - and are requiring increasing amounts of physical activity. Look at DDR and the Wii. In Japan there are other systems that are coming over here that require even more motion.
I think we sometimes unfairly pick on video games. We would praise our children for being bookworms, but that requires even less physical activity - and usually fewer thinking skills.
I was blessed with a compassionate gym teacher though - I'm not sure I could have made it through if she had been mean. As I look back on it, she was especially kind considering I could barely disguise my loathing for her class.
I wouldn't worry about the video games. Video games are helping our children become quite deft thinkers - and are requiring increasing amounts of physical activity. Look at DDR and the Wii. In Japan there are other systems that are coming over here that require even more motion.
I think we sometimes unfairly pick on video games. We would praise our children for being bookworms, but that requires even less physical activity - and usually fewer thinking skills.
jennay
0
I so agree! I played soccer in high school and it is about as much running as you can get aside from cross country, but my nutritional habits were horrible! I hated to drink water, so just wouldn't, and was a huge junk food addict (despite the fact my parents didn't really have much in our house -- we had a school store with loads of crap -- guess what i did everyday with my lunch money!).
First and foremost, I honestly think that obeisity in children has more to do with the parents than the schools. I know this is not entirely true, but I have seen so many parents feed crap to their kids, and then have the schools get blamed for encouraging unhealthy eating.
I don't know so much about the states, but the Canadian Education system has completely stepped up to promoting healthy eating. The schools are getting healthier snacks in the vending machines and putting courses into the curriculum that cover healthy eating.
As far as physical education goes, most schools in Canada have mandatory Phys ed programs until senior high. However, they offer a broader range of classes than when I was a student. They now offer co-ed as well as all girl and all boy classes, all sorts of different sporting opportunities, and such programs as outdoor rec, which encourages students to engage themselves in a variety of athletic sports.
I personally think that schools should make Physical Education mandatory from Kindergarten to graduation. Most children get no exercise outside of school either because they aren't interested in the sports offered in their community, or because their parents cannot afford the equipment to go along with the particular sport they are interested in. If they have the opportunity of doing these sports at school, than they can get the equipment for free and be able to involve themselves in physical activities.
Most importantly, parents should promote healthy eating and physical activity at home. This will get their children interested in it, and get them wanting to be involved in Phys ed classes in school. Parents who also eat healthy in the home will have their children eating healthy in the schools. The more the parents are involved, the more the schools will be involved, and we will end up with less fat children
Jaclyn
I don't know so much about the states, but the Canadian Education system has completely stepped up to promoting healthy eating. The schools are getting healthier snacks in the vending machines and putting courses into the curriculum that cover healthy eating.
As far as physical education goes, most schools in Canada have mandatory Phys ed programs until senior high. However, they offer a broader range of classes than when I was a student. They now offer co-ed as well as all girl and all boy classes, all sorts of different sporting opportunities, and such programs as outdoor rec, which encourages students to engage themselves in a variety of athletic sports.
I personally think that schools should make Physical Education mandatory from Kindergarten to graduation. Most children get no exercise outside of school either because they aren't interested in the sports offered in their community, or because their parents cannot afford the equipment to go along with the particular sport they are interested in. If they have the opportunity of doing these sports at school, than they can get the equipment for free and be able to involve themselves in physical activities.
Most importantly, parents should promote healthy eating and physical activity at home. This will get their children interested in it, and get them wanting to be involved in Phys ed classes in school. Parents who also eat healthy in the home will have their children eating healthy in the schools. The more the parents are involved, the more the schools will be involved, and we will end up with less fat children
Jaclyn
OrleansLink
New member
I now look back and thank my parents for making me play baseball in High School because without that, I would have gotten VERY heavy. The daily exercise kept off the heavy fat until college
No offense, but I'm surprised to hear so many people think that the president's physical fitness thingy was so over-the-top. I always thought it was somewhat of a joke, I always blew past all the requirements. When I had to do 7 pull-ups, I could rip out 20 of them. It was much more relaxed for girls, I mean, a 16 year old girl had to run a mile in 10:31 and had to hang on to a bar for 7 seconds? That's not exactly a high standard. Typically, very few girls wouldn't be able to meet those requirements... at least back in the day.
dariqueen
New member
Our gym class wasn't too bad, most of the time. The problem though, is that nothing was regular. We spent a week learning each type of sport. We weren't taught how to do things properly, or how to increase our endurance. When we were forced to do the Fitness thingy, it lasted maybe a week, and we never practiced any of it the rest of the year.
And they never made exceptions...I had asthma, I ran for as long as I could while still able to breathe, but as soon as I started to walk in order to keep breathing, I was yelled at. I still can't do a 'proper' sit-up, right up to my knees, but I know that as long as I'm using my stomach muscles, and lifting my shoulders off the floor, it's good. But I got dinged back then because I couldn't reach my knees more than a couple of times.
I was a fairly active child, but running around and bike riding with your friends is not preparation for chin-ups and push-ups.
And they never made exceptions...I had asthma, I ran for as long as I could while still able to breathe, but as soon as I started to walk in order to keep breathing, I was yelled at. I still can't do a 'proper' sit-up, right up to my knees, but I know that as long as I'm using my stomach muscles, and lifting my shoulders off the floor, it's good. But I got dinged back then because I couldn't reach my knees more than a couple of times.
I was a fairly active child, but running around and bike riding with your friends is not preparation for chin-ups and push-ups.
KissMyHuman
New member
It really looks like a per-school problem. My phys ed teachers were well educated, our highschool had a weight room, we did interval training on the track, and we did a lot of team sports with mixed levels of experience on each team.
My downfall during those years were simply my habits outside of school. The first thing teachers and parents should be doing is fostering an enthusiasm for proper eating and activity that will carry over into adulthood.
My downfall during those years were simply my habits outside of school. The first thing teachers and parents should be doing is fostering an enthusiasm for proper eating and activity that will carry over into adulthood.
superciliousme
New member
Hmmm interesting!
For the Singapore school system, PE is compulsory from primary all the way to junior college (which is senior high school in the US school system). Every year we have the NAPFA test (which I don't know what it stands for) and we're tested in running, sit-ups, pull-ups, standing broad jump, the stretching thing where we have to sit and bend down to try and reach our toes and something else..
So that means for almost every PE class, especially when the test is coming up, we'll go running and running and running!! Yucky to me cos I hate jogging. It's like.. in primary school we run 1.6km-session, 2.4km in secondary school, and 3km in junior college for girls, and 5km for guys. I dunno how many is that in miles
Then they also have a program for overweight students. These students can't go for recess and have to run around the school instead, or do other exercises. Afterwards they're given fruits & yoghurt. In primary school there's also a program for underweight students where they're given milk to drink. hahaha...
Hmm overall it seems pretty good, but I just hate jogging! Still does to this day.. I don't like the sweaty feeling. Which is why my fave sport is swimming!
For the Singapore school system, PE is compulsory from primary all the way to junior college (which is senior high school in the US school system). Every year we have the NAPFA test (which I don't know what it stands for) and we're tested in running, sit-ups, pull-ups, standing broad jump, the stretching thing where we have to sit and bend down to try and reach our toes and something else..
So that means for almost every PE class, especially when the test is coming up, we'll go running and running and running!! Yucky to me cos I hate jogging. It's like.. in primary school we run 1.6km-session, 2.4km in secondary school, and 3km in junior college for girls, and 5km for guys. I dunno how many is that in miles
Then they also have a program for overweight students. These students can't go for recess and have to run around the school instead, or do other exercises. Afterwards they're given fruits & yoghurt. In primary school there's also a program for underweight students where they're given milk to drink. hahaha...
Hmm overall it seems pretty good, but I just hate jogging! Still does to this day.. I don't like the sweaty feeling. Which is why my fave sport is swimming!
Hmmm interesting!
For the Singapore school system, PE is compulsory from primary all the way to junior college (which is senior high school in the US school system). Every year we have the NAPFA test (which I don't know what it stands for) and we're tested in running, sit-ups, pull-ups, standing broad jump, the stretching thing where we have to sit and bend down to try and reach our toes and something else..
So that means for almost every PE class, especially when the test is coming up, we'll go running and running and running!! Yucky to me cos I hate jogging. It's like.. in primary school we run 1.6km-session, 2.4km in secondary school, and 3km in junior college for girls, and 5km for guys. I dunno how many is that in miles
Then they also have a program for overweight students. These students can't go for recess and have to run around the school instead, or do other exercises. Afterwards they're given fruits & yoghurt. In primary school there's also a program for underweight students where they're given milk to drink. hahaha...
Hmm overall it seems pretty good, but I just hate jogging! Still does to this day.. I don't like the sweaty feeling. Which is why my fave sport is swimming!
I think that if in elementary school they made it so I wasn't allowed recess like all the "normal" kids, I'd have grown up with more insecurities and self hate. Elementary kids are cruel enough, but actually being picked out from the rest of the class would be horrible, and seems to me it would only up the mean comments.
I think promoting healthy fitness standards is a good idea... but still.
superciliousme
New member
Well I've heard of how nasty bully cases in the usa can be.. but it's not happening right here.. Of course there are bully cases, it's just that, when compared to what I've heard happening over there, it's so much more minor...
G
Guest
Guest
In elementary school I had some decent gym teachers who made exercise fun.
But then I had some nightmarish gym classes in middle school (and high school wasn't much better). It was overly competitive which made kids bully each other more, and the teachers didn't help. At that time, I had gained a little weight from depression (my parents had a nasty divorce the year before), and I had a psychotic witch of a teacher who lived to make my life h*ll.
Each year, they'd do that stupid BMI test with the prongs around the upper arm fat. Right in front of class, my gym teacher tested mine and said I was "very fat" (which actually was not true--my BMI was 25). It was also very creepy forcing the girls to get naked together in the locker room to shower.
When I become a parent I will never force my kids to go to gym class (though if they'd want to go, they could). There's plenty of awesome physical activities that would probably give them better exercise and way more self-esteem than gym classes.
Making sure a kid gets enough exercise is a responsibility that should ultimately be up to parents and pediatricians. I'm sure if folks limited junk food, the amount of time their kids were playing with electronics (computer, video games, TV, etc), and kicked them outside to play we'd see a decline in childhood obesity.
But then I had some nightmarish gym classes in middle school (and high school wasn't much better). It was overly competitive which made kids bully each other more, and the teachers didn't help. At that time, I had gained a little weight from depression (my parents had a nasty divorce the year before), and I had a psychotic witch of a teacher who lived to make my life h*ll.
Each year, they'd do that stupid BMI test with the prongs around the upper arm fat. Right in front of class, my gym teacher tested mine and said I was "very fat" (which actually was not true--my BMI was 25). It was also very creepy forcing the girls to get naked together in the locker room to shower.
When I become a parent I will never force my kids to go to gym class (though if they'd want to go, they could). There's plenty of awesome physical activities that would probably give them better exercise and way more self-esteem than gym classes.
Making sure a kid gets enough exercise is a responsibility that should ultimately be up to parents and pediatricians. I'm sure if folks limited junk food, the amount of time their kids were playing with electronics (computer, video games, TV, etc), and kicked them outside to play we'd see a decline in childhood obesity.
superciliousme
New member
Compulsory gym?
I suppose it all depends on the attitude. While we have the overweight students singled out and asked to do extra exercise during recess, the PE instructors are all very supportive. They don't blame or label, or even call anyone fat at all.
I was part of it once because I was borderline overweight and what they got is a lot of support from the teachers to encourage them to change their eating habit, or to introduce healthier options. When they made us run around, the teachers will run alongside the students having the most problem to catch up, and rally them to finish up the exercise.
As for the bullying from fellow students, I've never personally witnessed anyone making fun of another student because of his/her weight here.
I feel that it has to start from the awareness and attitude regarding obesity. If they're already overweight, there's no point trying to blame anyone. It's much better to educate and encourage, and hence they lose weight because they see the benefit of a healthier lifestyle, rather than to avoid embarrassment.
Viewed in this way, then the school will have a role to play in instilling and educating the students about a healthy lifestyle, and PE/gym class can be used effectively to fulfill this purpose.
Might be too idealistic.. but just my opinion...
I suppose it all depends on the attitude. While we have the overweight students singled out and asked to do extra exercise during recess, the PE instructors are all very supportive. They don't blame or label, or even call anyone fat at all.
I was part of it once because I was borderline overweight and what they got is a lot of support from the teachers to encourage them to change their eating habit, or to introduce healthier options. When they made us run around, the teachers will run alongside the students having the most problem to catch up, and rally them to finish up the exercise.
As for the bullying from fellow students, I've never personally witnessed anyone making fun of another student because of his/her weight here.
I feel that it has to start from the awareness and attitude regarding obesity. If they're already overweight, there's no point trying to blame anyone. It's much better to educate and encourage, and hence they lose weight because they see the benefit of a healthier lifestyle, rather than to avoid embarrassment.
Viewed in this way, then the school will have a role to play in instilling and educating the students about a healthy lifestyle, and PE/gym class can be used effectively to fulfill this purpose.
Might be too idealistic.. but just my opinion...
Maybe I'm just cynical. I don't have kids, but nearly all my cousins, siblings, friends and co-workers do...and from what I've seen time and time again, whether it's a nightmare experience or an idealistic wonderland of fitness instruction, the role school plays in a child's fitness/weight is, at best, minor.
The parents I know who are physically active and nutrition savvy have kids who are physically fit, usually athletically involved and not overweight. The parents I know who are themselves physically inactive and fighting (or giving in) to weight problems (especially when it's both Mom and Dad) usually have kids who are the same. I have a cousin with two kids who likes to say that the microwave is her "best friend"...I'm not sure she knows what a raw veggie or piece of fruit looks like...I can't imagine that even the best, most supportive gym class in the world is going to have any real fitness impact on her sons who make a beeline from the front door after school to the bags of chips....before she piles them in the car and heads off to Mickie D's at least 3 nights a week for dinner.
TomO
0
Cym, you hit the nail on the head (tried to give you reps, but couldn't
)My wife's a public school teacher - 3rd grade. Before she became a teacher we were convinced the schools were the engine of social change. Now that she's taught for 6 years, we both realize the fallacy of that notion.
The schools are reflections of society -- nothing more and nothing less.
My wife -- even with all the garbage imposed by "No Child Left Behind" -- tries to teach her kids about nutrition and exercise. They lap it up. And what do they bring to lunch the next day? Cheetos and pop.
School administrators for a long time were concerned about junk food vending machines. But what were they going to do to raise that extra cash that paid for the computer lab? Hold yet another bake sale? It wasn't until parents started demanding that pop machines go, and until they found a way to make up for the lost income, that the vending machines went.
Teachers make a pitiful salary, considering what they do for society, as it is. Many of them go out of their way to foster good lifestyles. But unless society, especially parents, take it seriously, the kids will continue to deteriorate, no matter how much they beg their parents to buy vegetables instead of potato chips.