Challenge works to end child obesity

Fit & Healthy Schools is challenging PWCS 6th graders to fight the obesity epidemic that exists in this country today.

Fit & Healthy Schools’ mission is to build fit and healthy schools one school at a time, by making exercise and nutrition in physical education classes fun and exciting; integrating teachers, parents and students.

“An epidemic of obesity is compromising the lives of millions of American children, with burgeoning problems that reveal how much more vulnerable young bodies are to the toxic effects of fat. In ways only beginning to be understood, being overweight at a young age appears to be far more destructive to well-being than adding excess pounds later in life. Virtually every major organ is at risk. The greater damage is probably irreversible”. (Washington Post, May 2008). Chronic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes, once thought only to affect adults are now showing up in overweight children as young as 8 years old (Healthy Virginians, April 2007).
The number of overweight children nationwide has nearly doubled in the past two decades, while the number of overweight teens has almost tripled. Overall obesity rates in America have more than doubled in the past thirty years. Recent studies explain that today’s youth may not live as long as their parents due to obesity (INOVA Study, 2007).

These are scary statistics Fit & Healthy Schools wants to reverse. By challenging PWC 6th graders to take charge their lives by incorporating our 5 components of wellness, we feel we are headed in the right direction!

Fit & Healthy Schools 5 components of wellness:

Nutrition: Our foundation and core!

Aerobic: The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) defines aerobic exercise as “any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously, and it rhythmic in nature.” Examples include: running, walking, jogging, hip-hop dance and many sports.

Strength Training: Strength training or resistance training is defined as “any exercise that increases muscle strength and endurance against a resistive force”. A program for youth should focus on proper technique and include push-ups, sit-ups, jumping rope and squats.

Flexibility: It is important for youth to maintain their flexibility by stretching through full ranges of motion – this promotes health joint growth and prevents injuries.

Awareness and Prevention: There are many social problems facing today’s youth. The Fit & Healthy Schools program embraces topics such as obesity, eating disorders and substance abuse.

Good Luck to all 6th graders! BE WELL!