Arizonans may have taken a sigh of relief with the recent Proposition 100 passing that threatened to end many school programs, such as music, art and physical education. However, the security of PE for at least a few more years must have been a greater relief to the skyrocketing number of those with obese or overweight children in Arizona.Physical activity is a terrible way to control weight unless you have unlimited time to spend.
According to a recent study in May 2010 called the “Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine,” Arizona had the largest increase in the United States from 2003 to 2007, tying with the state of Kansas. The number of children suffering from obesity ages 10-17 went up to nearly 18 percent. This is in comparison to the national average of childhood obesity, which is at 16.4 percent. In this same study, Mississippi was the highest at nearly 22 percent, while Oregon’s was lowest at 9.6 percent. Overall, more than 25 percent of the state of Arizona is considered obese (children and adults).
Amid the small victory of badly needed funding from Prop 100, there is still no law mandating physical education classes at the elementary level in Arizona schools. In fact, a small percentage of schools in the nation require their students to take PE, particularly on a daily basis.
The data are clear that school physical activity programs do not do the job.
And they will not.
Holding parents (the nutritional child abusers) and mandatory reporters (the enablers) accountable is the only way to defeat this issue.
See here and help the kids.
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