By Staff
Many adults would do well to go back to middle school this semester. In partnership with the Alabama Dept. of Public Health, Neal Middle School is teaching a course designed to help students make healthier food choices, increase physical activity and reduce time spent in front of televisions computers and video games. The course is taught in the school's extended day program.
We Can (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) is a National Institutes of Health program addressing obesity in youth ages 8 to 13. The program involves students in at least 30 minutes of activity daily. The curriculam incorporates fun, creative nutrition, physical activity, medi literacy and screen time lessons.
Unfortunately, those are lessons many adults have forgotton. According to the American Obesity Association, approximately 127 million adults in the U.S. are overweight; 60 million obese; and nine million severely obese.
Obesity increases the risk of illness from about 30 serious medical conditions, and younger people with weight problems see earlier-onset illnesses. Hopefully, this program will increase preventative efforts.