Email: Childhood Obesity? No Sweat

Childhood Obesity? No Sweat
	Recently, we looked at some innovations in Minnesota’s school lunch programs that are fighting childhood obesity, which looms at 23.1%. Better nutrition alone won’t improve the situation, though – healthy kids also require physical activity. Looking closer, it’s obvious that physical education in Minnesota schools could use some work.

Let’s start simple: recess. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 20 minutes of recess for children in elementary school, but Minnesota does not require recess. Aside from stimulating creativity and letting students burn off some steam, recess is a great opportunity for kids to get moving. Requiring at least one short recess period for all elementary schools is a great first step towards healthy, active students, but we haven’t invested in this simple solution.

Next step: P.E. Physical education is mandated in Minnesota, but there are few requirements for quality in these programs. The state doesn’t have Phy. Ed. standards or any required curriculum, and it doesn’t require fitness testing. So schools teach physical education, but there’s no guarantee that students are benefiting. Without dedicated teachers and strong curricula, P.E. programs won’t encourage physical activity.

We need to acknowledge that physical activity is valuable and necessary to children’s health. Let’s make a firm, statewide commitment to providing opportunities for physical activity for all of our students.

Specifically, we should start by investing in Minnesota’s Safe Routes to Schools project, which is helping kids bike or walk to school by improving pedestrian infrastructure and providing education and promotional activities. That way, it’s safe and easy for kids to get a head start on daily physical activity.

Minnesota schools should also get more involved in the First Lady’s Let’s Move! project, which encourages simple measures to encourage physical activity. Beyond recess periods and high-quality physical education programs, the project recommends active classrooms to get kids on their feet. This means engaging students in activities that require them to move, even outside of PE. Before- and after-school programs are another great opportunity for physical activity. Let’s Move! also urges changes in infrastructure and school policy to allow increased access to physical activity for all students.

Our students deserve better. Healthy food and strong physical education curricula are the first steps towards curbing the childhood obesity epidemic, and schools are the best place to encourage lifelong healthy habits. We need to invest now in a healthier future for Minnesota’s children.

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