It was reported today that a new magnet school opened in Spartanburg, SC. Some might say it’s not a big deal, but The Academy of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine magnet program is like no other magnet – ever. What makes this school different? While most middle school students take PE for nine weeks of the year, these students will have it every day, for 45 minutes, for the entire school year.
It makes sense that a school devote itself to the academic wellbeing of their kids as well as their health and wellness. Administrators will tell you that the test scores for children in the higher BMI ranges (Body Mass Index) are systematically low or below average. Kids who are overweight are less likely to succeed in school, less likely to go to college, have a family or lose the weight.
If we don’t treat the kids most affected by the skyrocketing incidence of adolescent obesity, we’ll pay for them later. I can tell you that after 7 years in the business of providing treatment to kids, we have learned that having engaged adults available to these kids is crucial. I look to one kid specifically in our Fit Club program that Louie’s Kids introduced this past summer at Mitchell Elementary. Her Mom, Dad and Grandmother are all supporting her – they’ve made their house a fat-free zone, they’ve encouraged her to wear her pedometer, asked her if she’s journaling as required, and the results are in –she’s lost 22 lbs since June 3.
Let’s join with Spartanburg and recognize programs like Fit Club, the Lean Team or Junior Doctors in Health as opportunities to turn around failing schools and support children’s health and their overall wellbeing.
Louis Yuhasz
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
and is filed under Uncategorized.
