"today's younger children are twice as likely as students in the 1980s to be overweight"

[The Straight Story]

State school fitness tests show less than 40 percent of students 'healthy,' despite progress


Less than 40 percent of students in grades five, seven and nine achieved "healthy" levels in each of six fitness tests last year, according to results released Monday, but overall scores improved slightly.

"The percentage of students who are in the healthy fitness zone is increasing," Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of public instruction, said in a news release. "However, as a state we must continue to improve."

He cited national statistics showing that today's younger children are twice as likely as students in the 1980s to be overweight and that teens are three times as likely. The results for students tested last spring for aerobic capacity, body composition, flexibility and strength showed a 0.6 percent increase in fifth-grade students' scores, a 1.2 percent increase in seventh-grade students' scores, and a 2.3 percent gain in ninth-grade students' scores when compared with the previous year's results.

Older students scored better than younger children statewide, with about 38 percent of ninth-graders reported as healthy in all six areas. That compares with 34 percent of seventh-graders and 29 percent of fifth-graders.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_13895935?source=most_emailed

[unpossibles]

1. not surprising. Look at the change in pounds of consumption per person annually

for things like meat, fatty animal products and sugar. Meat's gone from 144 pounds to 220 with a similar rise in other fatty foods, and sugar has increased even more, although the numbers are harder to calculate and I've seen quite a range.

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/resources/research/stats_meat_consumption.html

I'm not trying to lay all of the blame on dietary choices, but we can't continue to ignore their factor either, can we?

[ItNerd4life]

2. I do blame dietary choices. You facts support it.

People always want the easy way out saying its genetic. They don't want to admit it's their own fault.

[unpossibles]

3. well, I guess what I mean is that it's a complicated issue

There are other variables besides diet. I know that when I was poorer and rode a bicycle everywhere I went, I lost a lot of weight and got to the point where I ate more than I did when I was heavy. But obviously the physical activity plays a role in determining consumption levels/diet.

And I do know that there are a variety of other things at play, from hormone imbalances, to genetic issues, as well as after-effects of illness, etc.

[snooper2]

4. They will be here shortly...

The "fat gene" has just made itself more prevalent in recent years apparently...

[Scout]

10. well the calories in/calories out simpletons are here already.... n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. A child's natural instinct is to run around outside and play

I wonder how many parents are thwarting that out of a misplaced fear of kidnappers or by over-scheduling the children so that they have no free time and instead spend an inordinate amount of time strapped into cars. I also wonder how many schools are thwarting that by banning recess in a misguided effort to raise test scores.

These are two things that are different from previous generations.

[ladjf]

6. Americans are committing suicide one terrible meal at a time.

The question is why? nt

[Quantess]

7. Today's Americans have been conditioned to think that

massive portions of starch and meat, with starch and sugar for dessert, is "normal", and they wonder why they are fat.

Combine that with kids thinking that "play time" means sitting in front of the glowing screen, and adults thinking that the closest parking space is always best, and you've got obesity out of control.

[dugaresa]

8. loads of kids come home to a TV or computer in their room that they

just veg in front of until dinner.

many kids don't even eat dinner at a table with family, they snack all day. i see it often and it is sad.

[JonQ]

9. Take away recess and physical activity for young kids

due to fears of lawsuits over injuries, or lawsuits over hurt feelings because little timmy was picked last at dodgeball. Then you see a spike in unruly behavior (for some reason :eyes:), so medicate them in to a stupor and sit them in front of a TV every waking moment, all the while slowly increasing food portion sizes.

Amazing that this would lead to obesity.

[Fleshdancer]

11. Finally. Something written about my generation that isn't an insult.

Slacking gen Xer my a$$! :woohoo:


Sorry, in a silly mood today. On a more serious note, it drives me crazy that kids don't play outside nearly as much as my friends and I did...you know, back in the 80's. ;) As a parent, I've noticed that it isn't because the kids are somehow more lazy, it's because a lot of the other parents seem to be overly afraid to let their kids play outside unless it's in a fenced in back yard. While I don't doubt that some neighborhoods are too dangerous to allow this, suburbia in general is no less safe than it was when we were growing up. I don't think this is the main reason for the obesity problem, but I think it plays a small part in it for some.