Exercise Before School can Control Childhood Obesity
October 17, 2005
There is a growing epidemic of childhood obesity in Maine and something needs to be done to address this problem. Apart from more physical education classes for students, there are other important ways to emphasize an active lifestyle among students.
One way is to encourage students to return to the simple act of walking or biking to school. Exercise before school can effectively control the occurrence of childhood obesity and help in weight loss. Thirty years ago, nearly 60 percent of students walked or biked to school. Today it is between 10 and 13 percent. However, this percentage is increasing dramatically in Maine as many schools have adopted a "Safe Routes to School" program.
"Safe Routes to School" is a national movement and in Maine, it is a statewide effort among communities to increase bicycling and walking to school by improving student transportation choices, safety and health. Studies show that students who get exercise before school, arrive more ready to start their day; have longer attention spans; are more productive in the classroom and lose weight effortlessly.
Source:http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/view/letters/2059174.shtml
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