You are what you eat’ is a phrase which accurately describes the significance of the role one’s diet place in literally shaping the body. We can take inspiration from Asian countries with low obesity rates such as Japan and Singapore, which have done a good job in helping children stay fit.
Firstly, we have to regulate the food children eat in school. Foods high in fat and carb content and soft drinks high in refined sugars are usually the causes of obesity in children as refined sugars get converted into fats when digested. We have to ban drinks such as Coke and Pepsi and processed snacks such as Crisps but since students will be against tis, we will have to provide substitutes with less sugar and snacks which are healthier, or just increase their prices. We also have to ensure that the meals served in the canteens are balanced with servings of fruit, vegetables, and good sources of proteins and carbohydrates to ensure students get the nutrients they need for a healthy body. When students spend half of their waking time in school, decisions taken my the school can have a great impact in the choices made by students through influencing their behaviour. America is a bad example where quality of food drastically differs and most people only have unhealthy food such as pizzas, burgers, and chips which are not good for a growing child, and snacks are heavily subsidised in schools, causing many students to consume them
Secondly, there should be mandatory Physical Education (PE) lessons for sixth form students and increase the time for younger students. In Singapore, Junior college students which are the equivalent of sixth form students, are forced to take part in 100 minutes of physical activity during PE so those who are lazy wont be able to avoid taking part in physical activity because once something isn’t compulsory, people will rather not do something if they have the ability to choose. PE provides an amazing opportunity for me to bond with my friends and at the same time, grants reprieve for students from being cooped up in their classrooms studying for hours, whilst giving a convenient timeslot for me to keep fit
To conclude, taking these suggestion will reduce the chronic illnesses experienced by students and young children and help reduce the burden on both individuals and society on the healthcare system, and even on our own mental health and self esteem.
1916-11