Armendariz 1

Josue Armendariz

Ms Dewey

Argument Essay

27 November 2018

A Broader Physical Education System

With obesity rates on the raise since 2004 maybe it’s time for a change in the Physical

Education system. As of now the class itself is essentially recess but with several activities

students have to partake in order to get their points for the day. But even then most students

do not partake in these activities so they are not getting the recommended amount of physical

activity that they should be getting in order to stay healthy. On top of the decrease time of

physical activity children are experiencing they are also being lured into thinking that being

excessively large is an okay thing to be in today's more “accepting” form of society. In order to

bring such a large change to the health of the next generations the change must start in

reworking the Physical Education system in order to show the importance of our physical health.

Within these few years of the “digital age” alone obesity rates have gone well over what

they were in the past. “In 1978/79, 3% of children aged 2 to 17 were obese. By 2004, 8%, or an

estimated 500,000 children, were obese” ( “Obesity 1”). Within just two decades the obesity

rate has gone up five percent, if this continues by 2040 it is possible that 18-20% of the youth

could be obese. Growing up overweight is not a very good thing to do, for starters you must

deal with the fact of not being able to keep up physically with those around you and

unfortunately with that could come the bullying from classmates. Back then physical education

was not just fun activities and games it was a class period to train the youth to become as
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physically fit as possible to prepare them for an active life.

Not only are the youth the ones at risk of obesity but it also is increasing within adults.

“For adults, the most striking upturns occurred among people who were aged 25 to 34, and

those who were 75 or older where the rates more than doubled to 21% and 24% respectively”

(“Obesity 1”). Not only did these adults grow up around the time that things were changing

within the PE system but they also grew up when the fast food chain began to really take off.

Within a reworked PE system they could’ve learned the importance of the fats and sugars that

foods contain and how to pick and choose what they eat so obesity would not be a potential

issue in their lives.

A healthier body will also increase the chance of you growing with a healthier brain than

someone that was a couple stones too heavy. “The analysis showed that obese participants had

brains that were eight percent smaller, and overweight participants had brains approximately six

percent smaller, than participants of normal weight” (“Bigger 1”). These studies show just one

of the effects that an unhealthy body could have on the brain itself not counting the possible

brain disease that could be a possibility as well. The increase in body fat comes with the high

possibility of increasing the chance of killing off brain cells. A healthy body could fight back

against all of these potential issues and decrease any chance of any type of illness from ever

happening.

Not only will obesity affect the body physically but it could also affect the mental health

of those who are and increase the chances of other potentially deadly illnesses. “Excess weight

appears to affect the brain in a variety of harmful ways, both directly and through secondary

effects of serious health problems such as diabetes, stroke, and depression” (“Bigger 1”). The
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potential of dying from a stroke or heart attack which stem from diabetes. Within a reformed PE

system students could learn the importance of how sugars affect the body decreasing the

chance of diabetes being a possible outcome for them.

By building up a strong and healthy body not only would the body become as healthy as

it could be but it will also increase its ability to fight off any disease. “We can start taking charge

of our own lives, by watching what we eat, cutting down on stress and getting more exercise”

(“Six 1”). The immune system is the one thing that is able to fight off any disease that may

attack the body, with a healthier body comes a stronger immune system that will work much

more efficiently in fighting off said diseases. In turn it will increase the chances of expanding any

one person's lifespan. “Weight training also helps: A study at Hofstra University in New York

found that weight lifting counters anxiety and depression and boosts self-esteem” (“Six 1”).

While doing any sort of physical activity whether it be weightlifting or running track you are

creating more and more endorphins running throughout the body. This will lead to you feeling

more happy over time and will decrease the chance of depression hitting when life may already

be doing so.

Some may argue that within a more reformed PE system it could take away from other

more important class times or even just take the fun out what the PE class is supposed to be

just fun. But in fact most students during this time do not take part in the activities being done

in the classes so no class time will be taken away from fun if just two days out of the week were

spent in a classroom learning about the importance of a healthier lifestyle.

To conclude a more well rounded PE system could help bring the obesity rates down by

not only teaching people the ways to maintain a healthy weight but also by showing them
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several activities they can implement into their daily lives in order to bring the next generations

into a longer healthier way of living.

Works Cited

"Bigger waist, smaller brain: obesity may increase the risk of brain atrophy, but negative effects

of excess weight can be overcome." Mind, Mood & Memory, Apr. 2010, p. 3.

Contemporary Women's Issues, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A223285055/GPS?

u=mcc_glendale&sid=GPS&xid=2a109d49. Accessed 27 Nov. 2018.

"Obesity rates up for kids and adults." Community Action, 22 Aug. 2005, p. 3. General OneFile,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A136652312/GPS?

u=mcc_glendale&sid=GPS&xid=620f4925. Accessed 27 Nov. 2018.

"Six secrets for a healthier, happier, longer life." Men's Health, June 1994, p. 73+. General

OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A15264013/GPS?

u=mcc_glendale&sid=GPS&xid=948e135d. Accessed 27 Nov. 2018.