Fitness is Fun!
September 2004

Advocate Spotlight - Wellness, Academics & You
Wellness, Academics & You (WAY) is a program that integrates physical activity, nutrition, and substance abuse information into the general curriculum of 4th and 5th grade classrooms and meets national and state education and NASPE standards.

WAY uses a true multimedia approach that addresses multiple learning styles and is sensitive to not only ethnic and cultural issues, but also varying classroom contexts. Through the rigorous classroom-based and home activities in the program, students will be encouraged and educated in ways to increase their physical activity on a regular basis and enhance their overall wellness through participation in the President's Challenge.
For more ways to make fitness and physical activity fun visit the Advocates section of our Web site.

Fitness Spotlight - Lack of Physical Education Classes Affecting Childhood Obesity
Along with the obesity epidemic affecting adults, obesity is also on the rise among school children. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the obesity rate among children six to 11 years of age has risen from 4.2 percent in 1965 to 15.3 percent in 2000, and research indicates that the trend isn't going to reverse itself any time soon. The problem has become so rampant that this generation of school children is projected to become the first to live shorter lives than their parents. Obese children aren't only affected physically, however: a recent study has shown that severely obese kids feel more socially isolated than children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.^1,2

One possible reason for the increase in childhood obesity may be that schools are making less time for gym classes because they are now focusing on academic performance and boosting test scores. Only 6 to 8 percent of schools provide the recommended daily gym class to all students, and the fear is that since children are not getting the activity at school, parents must take the responsibility of ensuring kids are being active.³

In an effort to promote activity and improve the health of students, several school systems have implemented their own creative, and sometimes controversial, approaches. New York City school officials plan to offer free YMCA memberships and promote intramural sports. California became the first state to ban soft drink sales to elementary and junior high school students. Detroit offers healthy lunches, including daily fruits and vegetables, calcium-fortified juices, whole-grain breads, and other healthful options.²

Perhaps the most notable state-wide effort has been in Arkansas, where schools have begun sending home body-mass index (BMI) report cards to parents. BMI is a way of estimating body composition and can be calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. An explanation of the results is sent to the parents along with the report card, which includes recommendations about how to improve the health of the child. The Arkansas results showed that 40% of the students in the state were either overweight or at risk, and feedback has been mixed.⁴

Though many states have made some effort to contain the obesity epidemic, most are not stepping up to the challenge according to the University of Baltimore's Obesity Report Card. Each state was graded on its efforts to pass obesity control measures, including nutrition standards, whether BMI is measured in school, obesity research, presence of physical education programs, and other criteria. No states received an "A" for efforts to control childhood obesity. Only two states (Arkansas and Connecticut) received a "B"; nine states received a "C"; 21 states received a "D"; and 18 states received an "F" for taking no action at all.⁵

States have tried several ways to fight obesity, but the most effective solution is the simplest one: get out and play! In Florida, where 58 percent of children do not attend gym class during the week, the health department gave pedometers to 6,000 students, teachers and staff to encourage daily activity. Classes compete with one another, and students receive incentives like Frisbees, water bottles and jump-ropes to encourage exercise.⁶

The President's Challenge offers the Presidential Champions and Active Lifestyle programs that help students and adults, groups and individuals keep track of daily activity (see 'Program Spotlight' below). Logging your daily activity online keeps you motivated, and it's free. It is one of many small things that anyone can do to stay active and help reverse the obesity trend.

Program Spotlight - Active Lifestyle Program
Keeping track of your daily physical activity is easy and free with our Active Lifestyle program. No matter your age this six week program requires you to be active for five days a week. Children need to be active for one hour and adults need 30 minutes of physical activity. You can choose from our list containing a wide variety of activities to help you get active.

Our on-line program also allows for groups, which makes it great for classes logging their activity. To register your group select an administer and have them set up the group information and invite individuals to join the group. When registering as a member of a group, include your group number and member identifier.

Make your commitment to being active and stick to it with your personal activity log available at http://www.presidentschallenge.org /pdf/pala_activity_log.pdf. This program is available for those without access to the internet as well. Contact one of our service representatives at 1-800-258-8146 to request a copy of the Active Lifestyle log. A number of awards are also available for purchase at a nominal fee after you have earned the award.