Sharp rise in youth obesity alarms teachers

MUSCATINE, Iowa - Physical education teachers in the Muscatine Community School District say they strive to motivate students to exercise and stay fit.

However, computer games, Web surfing, TV and poor diets are throwing them a curve ball.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the percentage of children and adolescents defined as overweight has nearly tripled since the early 1970s. The American Obesity Association (AOA) reports that 30.4 percent of U.S. adolescents are overweight and 15.5 percent are obese.

"When I call parents to talk about my students, some of them think, 'It's just phys ed,'" said Michael Each, who teaches physical education at West Middle School. "But I want to say, 'no, this is your life.' "

According to the AOA, Each's statement rings true. Diabetes, hypertension and other obesity-related chronic diseases that have afflicted mostly adults have now become more common in youngsters.

Each's concern is also echoed among his colleagues.

"Brain research shows exercise is a number one aid in improving memory," said Michael's father, John Each, who teaches at MHS.

"We are concerned about students' reading levels and the graduation rate, and that has to be addressed. But we also have a tremendous problem with student obesity and the health problems that accompany the lower levels of fitness."

The AOA reports those health problems include earlier onset of adult diabetes, heightened cholesterol levels and heart disease.

A troubling trend

Despite the research, warnings and education, the teachers interviewed are seeing an increasing number of students struggle to be physically fit.

Tim Armstrong, an MHS instructor, said he has witnessed a disturbing downturn in fitness levels during his 26 years in the profession.

Fifteen years ago, about 75 percent of his students could pass the minimum requirement for the 1-mile run fitness test, Armstrong said. He's seen this drop to 50 percent over the past three years.

The minimum is 8 minutes and 30 seconds for males and 10 minutes 30 seconds for females.

"I don't think that's a very fast mile," said Armstrong, who runs a mile in five minutes and 10 seconds. "It should be two minutes faster than that."

Susanna Rivera taught physical education at MHS for several years in the late 1980s before taking time off to raise her children. When she resumed teaching at Central Middle School six years ago, she was surprised at the increased number of students who were not physically fit.

Joel Wichers, who began teaching at CMS 15 years ago, said his observations have been similar during his 22-year career.

Better nutrition helps

Teachers at MHS said a federally funded program that provides fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to every student at their school has been a positive developments.

"When the program first came out in 2002, I'd have kids say, 'I never tried broccoli before, but I like it'" said MHS instructor Ann Edkin.

Armstrong and Rivera said they would like to see schools discontinue the sale of candy, cakes and other high-calorie, low-nutrition snacks available in vending machines and ala-carte lines in the cafeteria and begin offering more nutritious foods.

Armstrong suggested pretzels, granola and fig newton bars along with water and juices, as alternatives.

More gym time

The AOA reports that today's youth are considered the most inactive generation in history, caused in part by reductions in school physical education programs.

WMS teacher Becky Eserhaut said today's parents may also more cautious about sending their children outside to play without supervision than they once were due to a rising number of reported child abductions.

All the Muscatine teachers said they would like to have students in class five days a week all year long, but that would take more staff and more money.

Eserhaut said students there meet for five days when they do have a scheduled gym class, but only seventh-graders have gym every week of the school year. The sixth grade has 18 full weeks of gym and eighth-graders meet for seven and one-half weeks three times during a school year.

Perry Rodocker, athletic director at WMS, said seventh and eighth-grade students at his school are invited to participate in after-school organized sports and about 300 of the nearly 660 students at WMS take advantage of the opportunity.

Rodocker said the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and the boys' Iowa High School Athletic Association guidelines stipulate that sixth-graders will not participate in extracurricular team sports.

At CMS, Wichers said students meet for class two to three times a week.

Wichers said the sixth-grade students at his school are offered intramural activities four days a week, which include soccer and basketball, during their homeroom class. Rivera said the sixth-graders take turns participating and each class is full.

"The students want to come," said Rivera.

CMS also conducts organized team sports after school for seventh and eight-graders. Anthony Lohse, athletic director for CMS, said about half of the 630 students at CMS participate.

Armstrong said high school students have gym twice a week but they'd like to see them exercise at least three times a week for at least a half hour to derive a sufficient cardiovascular effect.

MHS phys ed teacher Robin Long said the weight room is open every hour for students who want to get in some additional work out time and it is also available from 7:10-8 a.m. for early birds. Long said a handful of students come in each hour the gym is open, and she sees a lot of freshmen who leave study hall to work out.

New classroom focus

Teachers say they are more apt to teach students about life sports in today's gym classes than ever before.

"What we need to do as a profession is try to get students to become more active in their everyday lives," said John Each.

Today, gym classes are likely to include are activities they can pursue in their everyday lives such as golf, tennis or running.

"Physical education has changed," said Eserhaut. "We are more focused on being active and staying healthy."

Eserhaut said teachers offer a variety of activities such as weight lifting, team sports and cardiovascular-targeted fitness to help students learn how to train for good health.

"They have fun using pedometers in the walking unit," said Eserhaut. "And they like jump roping and juggling."

She said more options increase the likelihood students will find a sport they enjoy.

Parents are the key

All the educators said a good attitude toward fitness and nutrition can be shaped in the home.

The teachers at all three schools sent parents a report on their child's fitness level this year. These messages, called fitness grams, are part of a national program to encourage families to become involved in teen health issues. The reports contain information on their child's muscle-to-fat ratio, results of student fitness tests and cardiovascular test results.

Armstrong said he learned to respect the advantages of fitness from his father and grandfather, who were both coaches and physical education teachers.

"They were always active," he said. "Kids see that. Even if they don't say anything directly to you."

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