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Obesity And Physical Education Article
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What Is Obesity? It’s Simple and Complex.
from:What is obesity? It is simply “increased body weight due to excessive accumulation of fat.” Even knowing that much can help those who are concerned about the condition. But the subject is far more complex than a quick dictionary definition.
If we want to answer the question, “What is obesity?” we may want to ask first: What is fat, the thing we have too much of? Fat, or adipose tissue in animals, is a form of glycerol and fatty acid in a soft, semisolid state. How much fat a person carries on their body is generally determined by how much of the substance is eaten in the food or how much of the food we eat converts to fat. For example, animals eat carbohydrates and this is easily converted to fat. (Carbohydrates are compounds such as sugars and starches). When this process results in an amount of fat that is beyond what doctors consider average, obesity results.
This may lead us to think that we can answer the question, “What is obesity?” by quoting facts based on food intake. In a way, this is true. The word “obesity” comes from the Latin “obesus,” which generally meant stout, fat or plump. If we go back even further, the Latin word comes from “edere,” which means, “to eat.” This connection between eating, stored energy and fat is at the core of medical studies on obesity. Too much eating, especially of the wrong foods, can lead to obesity.
So now, when someone asks, “What is obesity?” we can answer with complete confidence, right? Not necessarily. Medical experts and nutrition experts who have spent a lifetime studying obesity know that there is even more to the picture than meets the eye.
We may come closer to answering the question, “What is obesity?” by asking what causes obesity. The correct answer to that question is, “A lot of things contribute to obesity.” For many people, being overweight or obese comes down to eating too much and exercising too little. However, these are two factors in a long list of items now recognized as legitimate issues in obesity treatment.
These factors include:
• Age – the body does not use up food energy as quickly when we
grow older
• Gender – women tend to be more overweight than men, who burn
more energy when at rest
• Psychological factors – Some people respond to emotional changes
and stress by eating more
• Medication - Certain drugs, such as steroids and some
antidepressants, may cause excessive weight gain.
• Illness - There are some illnesses that can cause obesity
• Genetics – Obesity tends to run in families
So, when someone asks, “What is obesity?” we can start the conversation with the idea that there are many factors that may help answer this question. It gets a bit more complicated after that.
Obesity And Physical Education News
CDC: Half of overweight teens have heart risk - Tbo.com
 CBS News | CDC: Half of overweight teens have heart risk Tbo.com Cracker Trail Elementary in Sebring has made changes to its physical education program to fight childhood obesity and diabetes. By MARY SHEDDEN | The Tampa Tribune A new nationwide warning about overweight teens and heart disease mirrors problems local ... Childhood obesity contributes to rise of diabetes |
Schools awarded $25K for helping kids move - CNN
Schools awarded $25K for helping kids move CNN (CNN) -- As the district director of physical education and health literacy for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Jayne Greenberg's annual budget is $0. It's almost unbelievable when you know the statistics -- that one in six US children are obese, ... |
How Fat Are We? Obesity In America - Southwest Florida (blog)
How Fat Are We? Obesity In America Southwest Florida (blog) Just how overweight are Americans? And how did we get to an epidemic of obesity in just 30 years? Less than eight percent of schools require physical education classes, although one hour of daily exercise is recommended for children. |
Obesity in the US requires multiple remedies - Daytona Beach News-Journal
 Diet Blog | Obesity in the US requires multiple remedies Daytona Beach News-Journal Less than 8 percent of all schools offer daily physical education -- the IOM report recommends that primary and secondary schools offer 60 minutes of physical education daily. The report encourages healthy foods and drinks be made available at all ... Today's shows about the obesity epidemic rarely go to the heart of the problem 'Weight of the Nation': To Win, We Have to Lose |
Officials Work To Tackle Obesity In Michigan Children - WLNS
Officials Work To Tackle Obesity In Michigan Children WLNS "We know that healthy students learn better, we not only want students to be healthy, but also for that to translate into classrooms," said Kyle Guerrant, Michigan Department of Education. There's already talks in Michigan on how to fight obesity in ... |
Cartoon Network to Launch 'Move It Movement' to Fight Childhood Obesity - Broadway World
Cartoon Network to Launch 'Move It Movement' to Fight Childhood Obesity Broadway World The 17-market tour will launch officially June 10 in Atlanta - on the heels of National Physical Fitness & Sports Month in May - and travel throughout the country to prime family locations in 17 key markets, sponsored by local cable affiliates. |
Obese Youths Found to Have Heart Damage - Education Week News (blog)
 Zee News | Obese Youths Found to Have Heart Damage Education Week News (blog) The hearts of obese youths also had functional deficiencies not found in the hearts of the lean or overweight subjects. "Education on healthy food and exercise is needed in schools to prevent obesity and early cardiovascular disease in adolescents," ... Hearts Already Hurt in Obese Teens Obese teenagers 'may already have suffered lasting heart damage' |