What class do you think deserves more emphasis in school and why? by Peyton

What class do you think deserves more emphasis in school and why? by Peyton - November 2021 Scholarship Essay

According to a research study done in 2018 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in three adolescents ages 12-19 were considered overweight. What is even scarier is that 20% of American youth are obese. Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30.0. Included in the CDC National Center for Health Statistics data brief there is also a breakdown of these statistics based on gender, race and socioeconomic status. Without differentiating between demographics (which is another topic of discussion), it is staggering that a third of the kids in America are struggling so much with their weight. This obesity crisis is the first time in history that a generation of American adolescents may face a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

Due to these really concerning facts, I feel that one subject in school which deserves more emphasis is health/physical education. During the past 40 years obesity rates have quadrupled from 4.6% to 20.6% among the same youth age population. Up until 1987 schools across the US participated in the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. This contest was a test in seven areas: Pull-ups/Arm hang, sit-ups, shuttle run, standing broad jump, 50-yard dash, softball throw, 600-yard walk/run. Aside from exposing children to a variety of sports and nutrition topics, much of the daily PE class was spent on preparing for this test. The result of this preparation was an increase in the overall fitness level of the student. Over the past 40 years we have also seen an increase in the depression and anxiety rates among adolescents. Daily physical activity has been shown in numerous studies to lessen depression rates as well. Therefore, there seems to be a relationship between decrease in daily physical activity and an increase in depression/anxiety among kids and teens. Youth are struggling physically as well as mentally at alarming rates. I think we have a great solution to some of the mental health challenges kids are going through today, and that is daily physical exercise.

Based on the support for physical and psychological benefits of exercise coupled with the known health risks that can be attributed to inactivity, it seems to be clear that daily physical education plays a critical role in kids’ physical, psychological and cognitive development. In addition, weight loss is another added benefit. Increasing our focus on health/PE can and will help to prevent suicides, depression, other unhealthy lifestyle choices like abusing drugs/alcohol, and eating unhealthy snacks and food. Placing emphasis in school on a healthier diet, increased DAILY physical activity and behavior modifications can increase life expectancy, which in my opinion is the best way to serve our youth.