According to the CDC approximately 75% of U.S. adults are now considered overweight or obese. Additionally, every 1 in 5 adolescents and children are overweight or obese.
The lack of physical activity–especially among youth–may be a leading factor. Mrs. Jacqueline Rost, Elkhart High School Athletic Director, offers this: “These statistics make a person pause for sure, as issues with weight and/or obesity at an early age can certainly lead to health issues as adults. Athletics is a great way to stay active physically and provides social and emotional benefits, as well.”
Continuing, Rost notes what attempts this school district is making to combat this growing trend. “We’re excited to offer many sports in Elkhart schools, starting as young as 4th grade in the elementary. And,” she explains, “many of our athletic opportunities are considered lifelong sports–meaning they are sports that can be played into adulthood: golf, tennis, swimming, and cross country, just to name a few.”
Moreover, Rost claims that the work in that direction is never done. In fact, new initiatives are always being incorporated. “We are also excited that our new Elkhart Health & Strength facility will be opening the second semester this school year! This facility,” she states, “features strength equipment for weight lifting and space for speed and agility training, a separate cardio room, and a room for yoga/pilates, etc.” Concluding, Rost clarifies: “The space is not just for Elkhart athletes; rather, any student at Elkhart High School is able to enroll in weights classes and benefit from all that this has to offer.”
What Efforts are Being Made to Help Fix This Issue?
On a more national level, one effort being made to alleviate this growing crisis is by President Donald Trump, as he signed an executive order on July 31 that re-established the Presidential Fitness Test (PFP). When signing the order, President Trump made this public statement: “This was a wonderful tradition, and we’re bringing it back.”
The PFP has students doing a one-mile run, sit-ups, push-ups, shuttle run, and a flexibility test. Students were then put into one of three zones based on their fitness level. Those in the healthiest Fitness Zone will receive recognition for achieving sufficient fitness for good health, while those who fall short of that will receive messages about potential health risks, using the philosophy that awareness is the first step in correcting a condition.
Another national effort being made is being championed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has popularized a fitness challenge of attempting 50 pull-ups and 100 push-ups in under ten minutes. The idea is to get America moving again–even if the participants do not complete the challenge. Any movement is better than no movement. On a related note, RFK Jr. describes the nation’s poor health as a “critical issue,” stating, “We are betraying our children by letting food industries poison them,” which led him to initiate the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
What is the MAHA Movement?
The MAHA movement–or Make America Healthy Again–is a movement which has the goal to reverse the growing epidemic of chronic disease in America by addressing its root causes.
The movement wants to achieve this by transforming America’s food, health, well-being, and resilience with policies that promote healthy diets, the scientific system by prioritizing prevention, increased physical activity, reduced environmental toxins, and reduced reliance on medication.
Mrs. Danielle Smith from West Side Middle School shares her mixed reaction. “While I understand where John F Kennedy Jr. is coming from, as an obese, chronically ill individual, I also understand that not every disease is related to his thoughts.” Continuing, Smith offers her personal insights on the complexity of the issue. “I believe that every person is different and that chronically ill individuals did not ask for this life. A lot of us are unable to lose weight with just diet and exercise.”
Smith does agree that diet and exercise are essential components to a healthy lifestyle. However, she suggests that society should be doing more to make that financially feasible for the average citizen. “I feel that if healthier foods were more affordable, people wouldn’t have to rely on the ultra-processed foods.”
So How is America Addressing the Problem?
The Make America Healthy Again Commission will continue to conduct more studies on the causes and potential causes behind the rise in chronic diseases, especially as it relates to America’s youth. While diet and exercise are the two primary target areas to explore, the Commission will also investigate environmental and lifestyle conditions that contribute to the issue. Eventually, the Commission hopes to put in place governmental policies aimed at making youth more fit now and in the future. Part of that mission will be to investigate how its own inner workings both expedite and impede that goal.
For more information, visit the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission website.
