TED Community » Raphael Baron

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• A comment on Conversation: Does the lack of physical education classes in many public schools contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic?

  May 21 2011: Children aren't as motivated to be active anymore as they should be. It is obvious that nowadays you can spend your life on the internet concerning most aspects of your life.
  
  Concerning obesity, I also think that other factors come in place. If you look at the industry of food, it is understandable that kids will naturally tend to get bigger. I know this doesn't link directly to your question but it is so much easier to be active in a healthy body with a good heart.
  
  The psychological aspect as well is a part of the problem for me. First of all, the lifestyle of an obese person creates a vicious circle in a way. If the world these days offer you a life style where you don't need to be active then obviously people will take this path. From there becoming bigger is going to make an active life style even more difficult to follow.
  The other thing about it is that fat can be a very comfortable "barrier" from the world you live in.
  
  Education is very important but I think that now we need something more than gym classes at school. Gym class should be a way to inspire you to find your own way to spend energy. The education system needs to adapt to a new wave of children who don't face the same problems that kids did generations before.
  So I definitely think that less gym classes at school affect this epidemic greatly but it's not just about having more gym classes on our schedule anymore. Things should be done differently to make children understand the importance of physical activity and the joy you can get from it.