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Childhood obesity epidemic

M

MountaineerWV

Sophomore
Sep 18, 2007
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https://www.yahoo.com/health/child-obesity-an-exploding-nightmare-in-151130921.html

Fast Food on top of the fact that schools nationwide have cut back drastically on physical education in elementary schools is my big problem. I can remember, and probably most of you too, back when I was in elementary school. We would get 30 minute recess in the morning, 30 more minutes in the afternoon, plus 1 hour just after lunch of "PE". Today, it's all about math math math.....sit and learn......read read read.....sit and learn......ACT ACT ACT......sit and learn. And they wonder why children are getting heavier. Maybe the state and federal government could take a look in the mirror. And putting in "healthy lunches" isn't going to fix anything. It's a great start, but it's time to put physical activities back in to schools, especially at the elementary level.
 
B

bamaEER

Freshman
May 29, 2001
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MountaineerWV said:
https://www.yahoo.com/health/child-obesity-an-exploding-nightmare-in-151130921.html

Fast Food on top of the fact that schools nationwide have cut back drastically on physical education in elementary schools is my big problem. I can remember, and probably most of you too, back when I was in elementary school. We would get 30 minute recess in the morning, 30 more minutes in the afternoon, plus 1 hour just after lunch of "PE". Today, it's all about math math math.....sit and learn......read read read.....sit and learn......ACT ACT ACT......sit and learn. And they wonder why children are getting heavier. Maybe the state and federal government could take a look in the mirror. And putting in "healthy lunches" isn't going to fix anything. It's a great start, but it's time to put physical activities back in to schools, especially at the elementary level.
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Yeah, but this goes way beyond what's going on in schools. I look at what's going on at home. Pickup basketball and touch football games in your neighborhood have been replaced by Madden on PS-4. And growing up, we ate fast food only once in a while. Now, it seems like Mom picks up dinner on her way home from work way too often.
 
M

MountaineerWV

Sophomore
Sep 18, 2007
26,324
194
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bamaEER said:
Yeah, but this goes way beyond what's going on in schools. I look at what's going on at home. Pickup basketball and touch football games in your neighborhood have been replaced by Madden on PS-4. And growing up, we ate fast food only once in a while. Now, it seems like Mom picks up dinner on her way home from work way too often.
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Video games may be a problem, but it's not as big as some might think. Fast Food is horrible, and going to be the demise of this generation. I hate it. I refuse to eat it. Every now and then I'll eat at a steak house, but that's as close to fast food as I will get. When I'm with someone who stops at a fast food place, I order one of their salads or wraps. In a time span of just 18 months, and no change in my normal routine and exercise regiment, I dropped 35 pounds by just stopping my fast food. I also drink no soda. I feel healthier than ever, once my body went through it's detox period. My wife and kids are now starting this process as well and have seen dramatic improvements.

If schools would just stop this nonsense about "sit and learn", and let the KIDS be KIDS, we would see a drastic drop in childhood obesity. We can't control what kids do at home, but it can be controlled at schools. That's where the initiative needs to be.
 
B

bamaEER

Freshman
May 29, 2001
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I too cut way back and lost weigh plus lots of exercise. Can't remember the last time I had a potato chip. Feel better than I did when I was 30.
 
J

JLW71073

Redshirt
Aug 7, 2003
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My kids both get frustrated and openly complain that 1) there is not enough exercise in school and 2) the school lunches suck. They also hate fast food with the exception of Chick-fil-a and Wendy's (only get that when we travel). To Bama's point it's not just what goes on in school but home life and what parents praise or reinforce. We really have to make an effort to minimize video game time and get them out to be active. None of the kids in our neighborhood play outside. There are no pick up games of any sort. Both kids have really gotten into riding mountain bikes as exercise since it's something they can do without relying on the slackers in the neighborhood. We are fortunate that both want to do extra training for soccer and basketball and that keeps them in great shape. Of course, I have to pay for that.
 
B

bamaEER

Freshman
May 29, 2001
32,435
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JLW71073 said:
My kids both get frustrated and openly complain that 1) there is not enough exercise in school and 2) the school lunches suck. They also hate fast food with the exception of Chick-fil-a and Wendy's (only get that when we travel). To Bama's point it's not just what goes on in school but home life and what parents praise or reinforce. We really have to make an effort to minimize video game time and get them out to be active. None of the kids in our neighborhood play outside. There are no pick up games of any sort. Both kids have really gotten into riding mountain bikes as exercise since it's something they can do without relying on the slackers in the neighborhood. We are fortunate that both want to do extra training for soccer and basketball and that keeps them in great shape. Of course, I have to pay for that.
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Nice that your kids have the awareness to get outside and sweat. That's a tough lesson to teach kids when their friends don't see it that way. I was a little bummed out when the town I live in bulldozed our public tennis courts because they are rarely used. New world now.
 
bornaneer

bornaneer

All-Conference
Jan 23, 2014
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MountaineerWV said:
We can't control what kids do at home, but it can be controlled at schools. That's where the initiative needs to be.
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Did you really mean to say this? I can't believe you advocate making schools responsible for our children's obesity issues.
 
M

mule_eer

Freshman
May 6, 2002
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bornaneer said:
Congratulations on finally seeing the light and making the necessary positive changes. Hopefully you can do the same in some other areas of you life.
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Don't know what your intent was with this comment, but it comes off as awfully judgmental.
 
bornaneer

bornaneer

All-Conference
Jan 23, 2014
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mule_eer said:
Don't know what your intent was with this comment, but it comes off as awfully judgmental.
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The guy said he made some changes in his life and he feels much better. I offered by congrats. How was that judgmental? Sounds like you are the one that is being judgmental. The last sentence to bamaEER was a little tongue in cheek given our differing political stances.
 
M

mule_eer

Freshman
May 6, 2002
20,439
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bornaneer said:
The guy said he made some changes in his life and he feels much better. I offered by congrats. How was that judgmental? Sounds like you are the one that is being judgmental. The last sentence to bamaEER was a little tongue in cheek given our differing political stances.
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Fair enough. Maybe I don't have a good handle on when you are joking and when you aren't. I don't think I really came down hard on you over that. In fact, I said that I didn't know what your intent was. Maybe it's only with me, but you seem awfully defensive anytime I reply to you - unless I happen to be in full agreement with you in the reply.
 
W

WhiteTailEER

Sophomore
Jun 17, 2005
11,534
170
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Also, a lot of schools are limited in what athletic programs they provide. In WV, if the school you attend doesn't have a sport, you don't get to participate. Even if the next closest school does have that sport, you can't go and participate there, you just can't participate at all.

My son is good in one sport that isn't offered at his HS, but is offered in the district I live in. However, if he wants to do this sport, he would have to transfer schools. They won't let him just go to the next closest school and do it. It happens that he goes to the only school in the conference that doesn't have this sport. Academics are better in the school system he is at, and he's been in that system since kindergarten so he doesn't want to transfer just to participate.
 
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