Gym Classes Reduced Despite First Lady Efforts To Fight Childhood Obesity

I must admit that I was really shocked to learn that gym classes are being reduced despite all the effort to fight childhood obesity from so many dedicated organizations, including our first lady Michelle Obama.

Daily exercise has been proven to not only improve your health and heart but also in doing better in school!

According to a new study released by the CDC, almost 50% of the high school students polled did not get any PE during the week.

In California and New York, only 20% got some PE during the school week.

Although schools are recommended to provide 150 minutes of physical activity each week, it is not a requirement.  According to a study done by University of Georgia, only 6 states actually mandate this.

We tell kids that they need to be active every day but then we don't make it a priority.  I think we are really sending a mixed message to kids about the importance of daily activity and health.

Here is what the CDC recommends communities can do to help kids

• Provide quality, preferably daily, K-12 physical education classes and hire physical education specialists to teach them.
• Create opportunities for physical activities that are enjoyable, that promote adolescents' and young adults' confidence in their ability to be physically active, and that involve friends, peers, and parents.
• Provide appropriate physically active role models for youths.
• Provide access to school buildings and community facilities that enable safe participation in physical activity.
• Provide a range of extracurricular programs in schools and community recreation centers to meet the needs and interests of specific adolescent and young adult populations, such as racial and ethnic minority groups, females, persons with disabilities, and low-income groups.
• Encourage health care providers to talk routinely to adolescents and young adults about the importance of incorporating physical activity into their lives.