Recent word that childhood cholesterol levels is undoubtedly good news — and it’s about time we’ve seen some when it comes to kids’ health markers.
However, there remains so much to do to improve the long-term health outlook for the nation’s children that no one should suffer the delusion that the worst is behind us.
To the contrary, kids are still as overweight as they’ve been. A growing proportion of them are living in poverty, which closely correlates with obesity and other health problems.
And despite efforts to promote exercise, such those championed by First Lady Michelle Obama, the trend is that more children are dangerously heavy.
We’ve got a long way to go. And in Colorado, that’s certainly the case.
The proportion of Colorado children who need to lose weight, while far under the national average, is growing rapidly. The most recent figures show of Colorado children are overweight or obese.
A , citing a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, said nearly half the high school students surveyed nationwide said they did not have a physical education class in an average week.
Students in the K-12 system should have regular gym classes for the exercise, and to give them a break from the rigorous academics that ought to occupy the rest of the day.
However, we do not blame school districts for the increasing childhood obesity rates. Though we hate to see gym classes cut, we also know school systems are being forced to make all sorts of budget cuts they don’t want to make. And we are first to acknowledge that academics ought to be a school’s core mission.
Addressing the causes of childhood obesity is a complex and difficult task, and it begins with a commitment from parents.
To be sure, policymakers have a role to play in this public health battle. However, when you get to the heart of the matter, obesity is not a problem that government can solve. Government can and should help by making it easier for individuals to have healthy lifestyles.
Ultimately these are personal decisions and we hope parents see the value of making the right choices where their children’s health is concerned.
