Posted by
Louie Majunk on Friday, August 04, 2006 12:51:57 AM
We are reminded often. Yes, at least once a month, and usually more often than that, we hear or read that far too many kids are overweight. The movers and shakers are concerned. They want to know why, and they want to do something. The question is not why, but why now as opposed to decades ago. Well, I don't know much of the scientific facts, but I do have some personal experiences that some may consider interesting.
When I was a youngster, I was far from overweight. The same could be said of at least 90 percent of the neighborhood children I use to play with. The way we lived made it difficult to gain weight. We did not have computers or cable TV to distract us in chairs and sofas after school. From the time we got home from school, we would run our little brains out till
dinner--a home-cooked, nutritious dinner. We had breakfast every morning, and lunch did not consist of Big Macs and supersized fries. The hot lunches served in the school cafeteria were not loaded with fat and grease, and ours schools had no vending machines. None!
When I was in high school, the girls were so slim and trim. Now, over 30 years later, I live within walking distance of a high school. You guessed it. Many, many girls are not that way anymore. When the weather is warm, I see dozens of them showing off their navels on bellies that are about to hang over their belts. And when do I see these girls (and boys) most often? When they are walking into fast food restaurants at lunchtime. There are four of these places within a five block radius of the high school--plus two pizza joints. Students who like a little variety in the fast food lunch jump into their cars and drive a mile or two. Ha!
I do not remember any school administrator or teacher saying that we could not leave the school for lunch, but structured school policies at the high school I attended made it all but impossible. Once the bell sounded for lunch, you had only 20 minutes to grab lunch and get to your next class. This was a requirement. No excuses! What did we do for exercise? Some played sports. Some lifted weights. Some hit punching bags. The rest of us just settled for the vigorous gym classes.
And some wonder why there are too many overweight kids these days.
What should be done, parents and school officials? Go back to the old ways? Many would say, "No, you can't live like the mid-twentieth century during the twenty-first century." Come on! Adapt it to the relevancy of the times if necessary. Play soccer instead of basketball. Have after school programs to keep kids active and out of the cookie jars and refrigerators. If we don't want to see a bunch of obese adults 20 years from now, something better be done.
Some school systems are doing something. They are clearing all the junk food out of their schools. Although plenty more needs to be done, this is a step in the right direction. Keep going, folks!