Testing gets blamed for the rise in childhood obesity in this article:
Just an extra hour of exercise a week could significantly cut obesity among young overweight girls, according to a study that researchers say could lead to major changes in the way schools fight obesity.
The study -- the largest look yet at obesity among young children -- did not show the same results for boys, possibly because they generally get more exercise than girls.
Still, Dr. Rebecca Unger, a pediatrician at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said the findings show the important role schools can play to prevent obesity and its health ramifications...
In the past decade, many schools have scaled back recess time or physical education classes to provide more time to prepare students for testing programs that are a key part of school-funding formulas, said Dr. Vincent Ferrandino, executive director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
"Many of those schools that made those choices to cut back on PE classes now realize that was not a good decision in regards to their students' health," said Ferrandino.
Is that really what's driving a lack of interest in PE? Or could another cause here be the schools so devoted to "non-violence" and non-competitiveness that they forbid students from touching one another, or from playing any sort of sports that one can "win"? Certainly, a kid could come away from PC PE class thinking that the best thing to do is sit around quietly. If we're going to help these kids shed pounds, we've got to stop freaking out every time they skin their knees or get upset at missing a goal.
I agree with the researchers that banning fatty foods from school is a good idea, though it won't be easy, given that students have come to think of sweet snacks as a right, not a privilege.
Posted by kswygert at September 9, 2004 11:33 AM