Our Kids are FAT!

I was walking in the shopping center the other day, and I got to noticing how so many of our schoolchildren are so FAT! I got to wondering why, so I decided to speak to some friends about it – call it straw poll “informal” research.

It seems that the major cause of children being overweight is lack of exercise. When I was at school, PE, or Physical Education was somewhat compulsory. We ran, jumped, swam, and then did it some more. It was actually unusual to see fat children at school. The few that were, were teased mercilessly. Not that that was a good thing.

We also walked or rode bikes to school. After school we played or did chores.

It seems that walking or riding to school these days is not all that safe. So children are dropped off at school – even if they just live around the corner. And then they are picked up in the afternoon. I understand that this may be a necessity due to the levels of crime in this country, or the reckless drivers, or paranoid parents, or all of the foregoing.

When I was at school there wasn’t a MacDonalds on every second corner. Junk food also seems to be a contributing “fat” factor.

It’s a shame really, because physical exercise burns excess fat, increases muscle tone, relieves stress, takes your mind of sex, reduces depression, increases stamina, and is just generally good for you.

In view of all the benefits of exercise, I never understood why Physical Education was removed from the school curriculum in the first place. Now we have a whole generation of fat, depressed, sex-obsessed, stressed-out kids that prefer to play Playstation instead of ball. No wonder they have so many problems – they have no outlet.

Even though it may not be safe to let your kids out alone in the street, there are other avenues for physical exercise. My son and I walk, run, swim, and play ball inside our secure complex. I take him to parks. We work in the garden on weekends together. And it doesn’t cost a fortune. In fact it costs nothing but a bit of imagination.

Come on parents and teachers – get our kids playing again!

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