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Eden Haneline

Professor Hugetz

ENGL-1302

09 April 2021

Physical Education Information Program Proposal

The number of physically, socially, and mentally unhealthy children rapidly

increases every year due to several factors. More children than ever are diagnosed with

childhood type 2 Diabetes and essential vitamin deficiencies which directly affects bone health.

Studies also find that children have lower self-esteem and poorer self-image. These problems are

majority due to the lack of proper physical activity or any type physical activity. In today’s day

and age children typically have exponentially more screen time compared to time spent outside

participating in physical activity. Adolescents who do not participate in activeness outside of the

designated physical activity time during school receive less than 19% of the recommended level

of physical activity and 14% report no physical activity at all outside of those times (Gould and

Hedstrom 17). Since chronic inactivity in American children causes obesity, childhood type 2

diabetes, improper bone density development, and a lack in essential vitamins, then a program

should be implemented at Bob and Betty Nelson elementary school that regularly provides

parents with information regarding the importance of physical education as well as providing

children with opportunities to be active outside of school.

Childhood obesity rapidly becomes more of an issue due to the lack of children

participating physical activity. Physical activity serves a crucial role in the prevention of

childhood obesity and consequently, adulthood obesity. Obesity not only affects the physical

aspects of life but the psychosocial aspects as well. An article entitled “Physical activity and
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obesity in children” written by Andrew P Hills, Lars Bo Andersen, and Nuala M Byrne, some of

the physical health risks involved with obesity in children may include CVD (Cardiovascular

Disease), metabolic, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, or orthopedic issues and complications (Hills

865). In addition to these physical health issues psychosocial risks also exist. For example, obese

children and adolescents are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and self-contempt,

reduced quality of life, depression, and social discrimination (Hills et al. 866). According to an

article by Daniel Gould and Ryan Hedstrom titled “Research in Youth Sports: White Paper

Summaries of the Existing literature”, children “are snacking more over the last 35 years” eating

more snacks with lower nutritional value (Gould and Hedstrom 18). They also tend to view

barriers to physical activity such as the attractiveness of indoor activities as opposed to outdoors

activities, a lack of motivation or support, and time constraints (Gould and Hedstrom 18). This

means that adolescents show little to no willingness to be active, perpetuating the cycle of

sickness and obesity in children, which causes lifelong illness, sometimes even chronically.

These problems will continue unless major intervention on numerous levels occurs.

Childhood type 2 diabetes is a direct byproduct of obesity, typically due to inactivity in

children. In the article titled “Putting the Brakes on Childhood Obesity”, which focuses on an

interview with a pediatric endocrinologist and diabetes specialist, Dr. Shankar in which he states

that “In the last 10 years alone, the number of children and adolescents diagnosed with type 2

diabetes has increased several-fold. In my clinic, 68 out of the 70 patients I see with type 2

diabetes fit the definition of obese” (Putting the Brakes… 5). The CDC also reports that

consequences of obesity includes an increase in the risk for developing type 2 diabetes (CDC 6).

This means that inactivity directly affects and causes a myriad of physical health problems.

These statistics prove that adolescents have a serious problem regarding physical activity, as well
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as building and keeping healthy habits such as eating balanced meals and exercising. Without

help, these unhealthy habits will continue to cause an exponential amount of problems and will

create a poorer quality of life.

Bone development can be seriously affected when not exercising and building bone

density. According to the article “Promoting Healthy Behaviors: Physical Education and

Physical activity: Physical Activity Facts” written and published by the CDC, this can lead to

osteoporosis, a disease that effects the structural integrity of bones (CDC 4). An article entitled

“Importance of vitamin D, calcium and exercise to bone health with specific reference to

children and adolescents” written by S.A. Lanham-New, R.L. Thompson, J. More, K. Brooke-

Wavell, P. Hunking, and E. Medici, states that there “is substantial evidence linking physical

activity and bone health in children” (Lanham-New et al. 370). Later in the article, the authors

dive deeper into this topic claiming that “Several such studies have examined effects of exercise

interventions on bone in children with gains in BMD and BMC…typically 1–5% greater in

exercise than control group” meaning that children who exercised had great bone density and

strength than those who did not ( Lanham-New et al. 370). The article also says that those

changes were paired with increases in bone area and circumference further promoting long term

bone strength. This means that inactivity at a young age can have negative effects against the

skeletal system.

Outdoor physical activity is especially important as it is required to get necessary

vitamins for the human body to function properly. For example, when children go outside,

sunlight is taken in through the skin and synthesized in the body into usable Vitamin D which

directly affects the function of the liver and kidneys, which control the filtration of blood and the

renal system. Calcium is also gained from spending time outside which is necessary for bone
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strength and oral health (Lanham-New et al. 364). This means that children do not receive the

necessary number of vitamins and nutrients for their bodies to function properly which will in

turn cause more problems in the future.

Parents are solely responsible for teaching their children healthy habits through their

actions, examples, and words. In short, parents are a child’s biggest role model. Further, it is vital

that parents understand how crucial it is for children to learn the importance of physical activity

from a young age. According to the article “Children’s physical activity and screen time:

qualitative comparison of views of parents of infants and preschool children” written by Kylie D

Hesketh, Trina Hinkley, and Karen J Campbell, “Parental influences during this time have been

shown to be associated with physical activity levels in later childhood”(Hesketh et al. 6)

Therefore, parents need to adequately understand the importance of their children staying active

through their childhood so that they encourage healthy habits. With the growth of internet use

over the years, parents tend to gravitate toward search engines for information. This is proven by

an article titled “Are Parents Getting It Right? A Survey of Parents’ Internet Use for Children’s

Health Care information” written by Carolyne Pehora, Nisha Gajaria, Melyssa Stoute, Sonia

Fracassa, Refilwe Serebale-O’Sullivan, and Clyde T. Matava, 97.3% of the interviewed parents

reported using the internet to search for health information regarding a child, and 43% reported

they searched for health information for their child frequently, from “a few times a month to

every day”(Carolyne Pehora et al. 12). However, not all information found through search

engines or websites is reliable, credible, or factual. There are numerous websites that are known

specifically for their misinformation or lack of credibility. Therefore, a better and more reliable

alternative would be to get information with professionals working directly with those parents’

children.
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The implementation of a program that provides information regarding physical activity in

children is also beneficial because it will target a specific area and population. The availability of

the information will be much better compared to other means of communicating important

information because not all families have access to internet or expensive doctors’ visits. As

reported by the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2017 94 percent of 5 – 6-year-olds

and 98 percent of 7 – 13-year-olds were enrolled in school (NCES 2). This is significantly more

compared to the mere 83 percent of families that had some kind of internet connection in 2016

according to the Census Bureau (Camille Ryan 5). Such a proposal should yield some results

regarding the health of children and the increase in knowledgeable parents.

The proposal of a program targeted towards parents as opposed to websites or

informational brochures and advice at doctors’ visits is simply more credible and much more

efficient. The program will provide easy to understand information regarding the importance of

keeping parents’ children active outside of school. It will also provide either a separate meeting

time or a translator for those parents who do not speak or understand English. Questions will be

encouraged, and answers readily given through access to those will medical educations and

backgrounds. This allows for parents to easily acquire information they can trust in a setting they

are most likely familiar with and with people they are familiar with. Although, the program will

be open to the public to be as inclusive as possible.

This proposal of a after school program could easily be implemented through the use of

volunteers from the school or even the community with safety precautions in place. It would

consist of a short lecture or presentation followed by an open question and answer time. The

presentation would include main ideas or points supported by easy to understand facts, data, and

statistics. If needed, these points and facts can be broken down further to be made more easily
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understood depending on the comprehension level of the audience. Regarding the question and

answer portion, parents could either ask their questions publicly or privately depending on the

circumstances or preference.

Many issues in children like childhood type 2 diabetes, improper bone density, deficiency

of essential vitamins, childhood obesity directly correlates with the larger problem of inactivity

and a lack in physical activeness. The only way for this perpetual cycle to end, is to thoroughly

inform parents of the health concerns of inactivity and benefits to encouraging sedentary and

vigorous physical activity. All in all, the proposal of an after school program instead of journal

publications, verbal advice and brochures from doctor’s visits, or studies and surveys is more

feasible due to the simplistic nature of a face to face meeting with medical professionals and

volunteers. A program targeted towards parents will hold only the necessary information without

the complicated terminology or concepts that only a medical professional would understand. It is

also more accessible due to the flexible schedule hat works around school and work.
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Works Cited

CDC. “Promoting Healthy Behaviors: Physical Education and Physical activity: Physical

Activity Facts” 21 Apr 2020 CDC | Physical Activity | Facts | Healthy Schools. Accessed

19 Mar 2021

Gould, Daniel and Ryan Hedstrom “Research in Youth Sports: Critical Issues Status White

Paper Summaries of the Existing Literature” Institute For The Study Of Youth Sports,

Jan 2004 Youth Sport Coaching: Development, Approaches, and Educational Needs

(hollistonsoccer.org) Accessed 19 Mar 2021

Hesketh, Kylie D., et al. “Children’s physical activity and screen time: qualitative comparison of

views of parents of infants and preschool children” International Journal of Behavioral

Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vol 9, No 152, Dec 12, Children ′ s physical activity and

screen time: qualitative comparison of views of parents of infants and preschool children |

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity | Full Text

(biomedcentral.com). Accessed 19 Mar 2021

Hills, Andrew P. et al. “Physical activity and obesity in children” Br J Sports Med, 2011 Physical

activity and obesity in children - CORE Reader Accessed 19 Mar 2021

Lanham-New, S.A. et al. “Importance of vitamin D, calcium and exercise to bone health with

specific reference to children and adolescents” British Nutrition foundation: Nutrition

Bulletin, No 32, 2007, 364-377, EBSCO, Importance of vitamin D, calcium and exercise

to bone health with specific reference to children and adolescents - Lanham‐New - 2007 -

Nutrition Bulletin - Wiley Online Library. Accessed 20 Mar 2021

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Neighborhood Heart Watch, “Putting the Brakes on Childhood Obesity” p. 5

Pehora, Carolyne, et al. “Are Parents Getting it Right? A Survey of Parents’ Internet Use for

Children’s Health Care Information” Interactive Journal of Medical Research, Vol. 4, No

2, Apr-June, Interactive Journal of Medical Research - Are Parents Getting it Right? A

Survey of Parents’ Internet Use for Children’s Health Care Information (i-jmr.org).

Accessed 20 Mar 2021.

Ryan, Camille, “Computer and Internet Use in the United States” Census Bureau: American

Community Survey Reports Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2016

(census.gov) Accessed 09 Apr 2021.