We all know obesity is a trend that we don't want to follow, and we especially don't want our kids to follow. Personally, I'm an advocate of parental responsibility when it comes to things like nutritional choices. However, until we parents are informed, lead by example and have the time and energy at the end of the day to instill good habits in our children, schools are taking the lead, with mixed results.
P.E. Classes
With so many budget cuts happening in our schools (especially locally), Physical Education programs are cutting back. We exclaim "But the children!" "They need the exercise!" "The obesity epidemic!"...all to find out that it looks like formal P.E. programs aren't helping to lower obesity in school children. Now where does that leave us?
My guess is that 38 minutes just isn't enough, especially only a couple times a week. With television time, high-fat convenience meals, and video games played indoors, movement is no longer part of many students' lifestyles, let alone parents'.
No total solution immediately pops into my head, but a "do as I say, not as I do" approach from parents isn't going to cut it. A very simple step in the right direction: after-dinner walks. Growing up, our family used to do this, and when we do it now, we have more time to connect, which is something else we don't place as much value on as a society. Not enough, in my opinion.
Another step German schools are taking to reduce obesity is to increase the number of drinking fountains on campus, along with providing reusable water bottles and teaching some lessons on the benefits of water.
So often soft drink companies (which also own juice labels) heavily influence school policies and pay the schools commissions on drinks sold. In this study, a nearly free resource (water), along with education, helped lower the risk of obesity in the students. [One question the study does not answer: what does "lower the risk of obesity" mean?]
In the end, there is no panacea and several hours at school each day isn't enough to combat an otherwise unhealthy lifestyle at home. As parents, we can take small steps to support our children's health.
What to do? I'll stop buying juice -- even 100% juice -- a bad habit I picked up during pregnancy, and begin choosing whole fruits instead. What small steps will you take, kids or no kids?
(Photo: jchatoff)
