Obesity? Say What?

Current mood: energetic

Okay, I've said it before and I'll say it again... who needs comics when you can just READ THE NEWS!

Today's interesting tidbit:

Researchers report that in the typical high school gym class, students are active for an average of just 16 minutes. The report, by Cornell University researchers also found that adding 200 minutes more of physical education time per week had little effect. "What's actually going on in gym classes? Is it a joke?" asked John Cawley, lead author of the study and a professor of policy analysis and management at Cornell.


Yep folks... you read it right... 16 minutes a day - and adding 40 minutes a day to the actual class really doesn't help increase activity either.

I'm sure most of you already knew this because of your experiences in "Physical Education/Gym" classes - and I'm sure there are many of you out there who loathed PE and looked for every excuse to miss out on class (teacher, i broke my toe nail and I can't put my pe shoes on!)

But put now look at it from an adult (and parent) perspective. We are entrusting our kids to the school system for 6+ hours a day. During that time, you're hoping that your kid gets the nutrition, exercise and education that he/she needs. Even now as an adult, as much as you may hate the gym... look back on your school experience. Are you really proud of yourself for skipping out on all your laps? Don't you wish you used that "youthful energy" to be a little more healthy and active? If we just start our kids on an active path when they are young... I'm almost certain that they won't be moaning and groaning when they have to run 3 laps in high school.

You can't wait until someone is 40 to undo their lifestyle habits. You can't wait until someone is obese before you change their eating and exercise habits. Once you have diabetes, you can only try to control it... prevention is out of the question.

So everyone, stop blaming McDonalds for your problems.javascript:void(0)
Publish I read Fast Food Nation - i hate the chain corps more than most of you... but the truth of the matter is, we only have ourselves to blame. Lets start expecting more from our schools and our parents and less from the greedy corporations (that have already shown us they have little concern for our well being! unless, that is, we demand it!).

Cheers.