A very good cause to fight.
To solve the problem is going to need a paradigm shift in our thinking.
The first problem is the activity level of our kids. It was exciting to see kids outside this week after several days of rain.... but it was the kids you might normally see outside, the kids who play sports.
Where were the others?
In this country, we have shifted our thoughts away from physical education and the necessity of it. Many schools are removing physical education from the curriculum. Recess is also being dropped. Activities that require movement are being replaced with memorization.
And our children are sitting more, walking and running and jumping less.... and playing refers to the video games in the family room. What are we doing to our children, because in order to increase brain function, movement is necessary.
The other problem is addressed in the movie Food, Inc.
Our thoughts regarding food is backward. Why is it that a double cheeseburger can be bought for 99 cents, but a head of broccoli cannot be? Why is it soda can be bought for less than water? Candy, cookies, ice cream? instead of fruits and veggies?
To fight the problem, we need to change our thinking. We need to challenge the businesses that are pushing for this way of life.
Jamie Oliver of Jamie's Food Revolution (www.jamieoliver.com) is working hard in a school district to change the lunches the children are eating. His show can be seen Fridays at 8pm on ABC.
The effort to fight childhood obesity needs to be a joint action by many. We need to educate parents as well as the children on how to make the best choices in activity and in food. We need to work together to tackle this problem.
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