Lack of physical activity among children is an epidemic in America. According to a recent YMCA study, which surveyed more than 1,600 American parents with children between the ages of five and ten, 58 percent of children spend less than four days a week playing outside.
On June 2, the federal government revamped the food pyramid and created a food plate instead. The plate includes sections for fruits, vegetables, protein and grain. A glass for dairy accompanies the plate, but noticebly absent is a section for sugars and oils, which was present at the top of the food pyramid.
For high school students, social networking and video games can take up the majority of a student’s leisure time. According to kidshealth.org, kids younger than six spend on average two hours per day in front of an electronic screen, and older kids spend four hours per day in front of an electronic screen.
“I play Wii Fit, which I consider exercise. It lays out a general plan and gives people specific instructions on an exercise. It’s right there in the comfort of your home,” sophomore Nicholas Gonzalez said.
First Lady Michelle Obama initiated her “Let’s Move” campaign for children to exercise more and spend at least 60 minutes a day playing outside.
“We have to make sure that our kids still feel good about themselves no matter what their weight, no matter how they feel. We need to make sure that our kids know that we love them no matter who they are, what they look like, what they’re eating,” Obama said at a ‘Let’s Move’ Town Hall meeting in April 2010.
Palmetto has added a salad bar to the cafeteria and Sushi Maki recently experimented with the idea of selling California rolls, rice bowls and teriyaki chicken for lunch at Palmetto. For some people, it is important for students to eat healthily and exercise at school.
“A healthy body is part of a healthy mind,” Ann Nelson, honors biology teacher, said.
Miami Dade County Public Schools requires students to take at least one year of physical education classes, either at school or via Florida Virtual School, in order to graduate. Some students do not believe that they should be required to exercise at school.
“I think that school lunches should be healthier, but I don’t think that we should have P.E. required for more than one year,” sophomore Vasilios Birlidis said.
According to www.healthtree.com, obesity can affect a child in numerous ways; the range of possible side effects includes but is not limited to heightened risk of early-onset hypertension and heart disease and increased risk of stroke, diabetes and/or heart disease as an adult. Obese children may have fewer social and romantic relationships compared to the non-obese, and college admission, careers and earning power may be negatively affected by weight.
“I think it’s up to them [students], but ultimately they’ll do whatever they want,” freshman Andrea Moreno said. “It’s their choice whether they want to be fit or fat.”
