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Parents and schools should combat childhood obesity

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 20, 2008

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THE ISSUE

A state survey indicates that a greater percentage of Hawaii high school students are obese than those on the mainland.

OBESITY among Hawaii's teenagers is increasing at a disturbing rate, putting them at risk of heart disease in later years, according to the latest information. Parents and schools need to address the problem through better diets and increased exercise aimed at taking pounds off the children.

A state Department of Health survey taken last year indicates that 15.6 percent of Hawaii's high school students are obese, up from 13.5 percent in 2005 and 10.5 percent in 1999. Nationally, 13 percent of high school students and 16 percent of children ages 2 to 19 are obese, according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention.

Not surprisingly, fewer of Hawaii's high school students are enrolled in physical education classes than their counterparts on the mainland. The survey found that 38.5 percent had gone to P.E. classes at least once a week, compared with 63.6 percent nationally, while only 7.8 went to such classes daily, compared with more than 30 percent nationally.

A new study at the University of Missouri's Kansas City School of Medicine has found that children who are obese show early warning signs of heart disease. The findings affirm previous research suggesting that childhood obesity is likely to result in heart disease as the children age. Experts also report an increase in Type 2 diabetes in children, which they believe is caused by obesity.

Childhood obesity has turned into a national epidemic, and the No Child Left Behind requirements have added to the problem by heavily emphasizing reading and mathematics. That has resulted in most Hawaii public schools reducing P.E. classes to one a week, if that.

Hawaii children from kindergarten through third grade take only 45 minutes of P.E. a week, those in grades 4 through 7 received 107 minutes a week and it is required in only one year for high school students.

Gov. Linda Lingle proposed to the last Legislature that P.E. requirements be increased, but Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto has said such requirements "would result in instructional time being shifted from other content areas and school-determined priorities." The Board of Education might be best suited to address the issue.

The Health Department's wide-ranging survey contained some positive findings for Hawaii high school students, who are at lower risk than mainlanders for risky behaviors such as fighting on school property, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and engaging in sexual activities. They have a higher rate of selling or receiving illegal drugs, although they are less likely to use marijuana and cocaine.

THE ISSUE

A state survey indicates that a greater percentage of Hawaii high school students are obese than those on the mainland.
OBESITY among Hawaii's teenagers is increasing at a disturbing rate, putting them at risk of heart disease in later years, according to the latest information. Parents and schools need to address the problem through better diets and increased exercise aimed at taking pounds off the children.

A state Department of Health survey taken last year indicates that 15.6 percent of Hawaii's high school students are obese, up from 13.5 percent in 2005 and 10.5 percent in 1999. Nationally, 13 percent of high school students and 16 percent of children ages 2 to 19 are obese, according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention.

Not surprisingly, fewer of Hawaii's high school students are enrolled in physical education classes than their counterparts on the mainland. The survey found that 38.5 percent had gone to P.E. classes at least once a week, compared with 63.6 percent nationally, while only 7.8 went to such classes daily, compared with more than 30 percent nationally.

A new study at the University of Missouri's Kansas City School of Medicine has found that children who are obese show early warning signs of heart disease. The findings affirm previous research suggesting that childhood obesity is likely to result in heart disease as the children age. Experts also report an increase in Type 2 diabetes in children, which they believe is caused by obesity.

Childhood obesity has turned into a national epidemic, and the No Child Left Behind requirements have added to the problem by heavily emphasizing reading and mathematics. That has resulted in most Hawaii public schools reducing P.E. classes to one a week, if that.

Hawaii children from kindergarten through third grade take only 45 minutes of P.E. a week, those in grades 4 through 7 received 107 minutes a week and it is required in only one year for high school students.

Gov. Linda Lingle proposed to the last Legislature that P.E. requirements be increased, but Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto has said such requirements "would result in instructional time being shifted from other content areas and school-determined priorities." The Board of Education might be best suited to address the issue.

The Health Department's wide-ranging survey contained some positive findings for Hawaii high school students, who are at lower risk than mainlanders for risky behaviors such as fighting on school property, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and engaging in sexual activities. They have a higher rate of selling or receiving illegal drugs, although they are less likely to use marijuana and cocaine.

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