The Killing of Our Youth

The obesity epidemic is tearing down our youth in today's society. According to an article in Time Magazine, children and adolescents who are overweight and obese have a tenfold increase in the chance of becoming obese adults. This fact alone is startling enough to increase the amounts of Physical Education and sport options that are available. Where should the target be placed in order to solve the severe obesity epidemic we are experiencing at this time?I believe it is a combination of the media, the availability of fast food, the under-education of our society in nutrition and health, and the cutting of sports from the middle and high schools. The media has brought wide spread attention to this issue but it does not seem like the schools or communities are implementing the right changes. Should we be placing all of the blame on fast food companies or are we, as citizens, not taking the steps to make sure we are educated. Obtaining knowledge of nutrition and exercise allows us to make healthy food choices.
The media and fast food restaurants are in part to blame. This is very evident by the amount of commercials for fast food you will see when watching almost any television program. Although it does not help the obesity epidemic, the fast food companies are merely businesses striving to earn you as a customer. I believe the entities that are too blame the most are the educational establishments. If both adults and children were educated in the way food was constructed at fast food restaurants compared to food that is prepared at home, there would be a change. Every year more teaching positions are being cut. In many cases, it is a Physical Education or Health position.
Physical Education and Health are always one of the first areas that are looked at when a school must cut money from the budget. What does this say about the priorities of our country? It says that the health of our youth is at the bottom of our schools list. It is time that our schools start placing the health of its students at the top of their list even if it is not good for the bottom line. Having a good bill of health is priceless.
Without their health, our youth will not be able to put to use all the Math and English they are learning.
About the Author: Michael P. McCoy is currently the CEO of Sport Directions. You can find out more information about me and my company at http://www.sportdirections.com/ Sport Directions is a premiere sports event management and fundraising company. Our goal at Sport Directions is to bring communities back to life through the use of community events that can involve everyone in some way. Check out our website listed above for more information on our services and to subscribe to our monthly newsletter on health, fitness, and nutrition.

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