We’ve heard the statistics many times before: Too many kids are getting too little exercise and, as a result, a record number of them are now overweight or obese. The children most susceptible are those living in low-income and minority communities where there's often a lack of safe outdoor play space and an abundance of fast-food restaurants.
This is especially problematic because childhood obesity has both short-term and long-term effects on health and well-being. Obese children are more likely to have high risk factors for health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, bone and joint problems and sleep apnea. Often, what happens is heavy children grow up to become chronically ill adults, and as a result, are more susceptible to problems such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer and much more. Even further, obesity not only affects physical health, but can also create psychological issues as a result of the stigma attached to being overweight.
As the president of UCLA Health System, I’ve seen this happen first-hand time and time again. In fact, in Los Angeles County alone, nearly half of all children are now too heavy, and according to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, only about half of seventh and ninth grade students in the Los Angeles School District could pass the California state-mandated fitness test.
Let these statistics serve as a wake-up call. It’s time to tackle obesity and put a stop to this growing trend. Although stunting this cycle is no easy task, we can start at its roots and in those places where the problem is most prevalent.
We can do this by ensuring that every student has the tools to pursue a healthy lifestyle and an opportunity to embrace fitness in their adolescent years. In doing this, parents, caregivers, teachers, administrators and so on can address bad habits and inactivity before they become an integral part of their child’s life.
That’s what UCLA Health System is doing in our community by joining forces with the Sound Body Sound Mind Foundation, which focuses on providing under-resourced schools state-of-the-art fitness equipment and a whole new fitness curriculum. What they’re doing in Los Angeles can serve as a model for school districts across the U.S.
I would encourage other communities facing this problem to consider the successful tactics the UCLA Sound Body Sound Mind program is implementing to create a healthier lifestyle for the thousands of kids in their area.
For instance, training educators to help students develop competence and confidence in the classroom by creating an inclusive and encouraging physical education environment. It’s so important for educators to show students that exercise can be fun, and to teach them how to maintain their physical health through the years. Since more than one third of children ages 10 to 17 are overweight, middle school and high school teachers play a vital role in lowering their risk of health complications later on.
The program is also fostering engagement by installing fitness centers on campuses, which creates the ability to implement after-school programs like group exercise classes. It not only provides a safe haven for children to exercise, play and learn, but opens itself up for wider community use. Creating a center like this that's open after school hours allows key players such as parents and caretakers to be more involved in furthering the fight against childhood obesity.
The cost of obesity to the U.S. economy is well over $250 billion annually, while the median annual physical education budget for U.S. schools is only $764 per school, according to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. While many schools would like to increase their fitness resources, they often can’t because they don’t have the means. Supporting schools ensures that children of every background have the tools to take control of their health.
These tactics are already showing remarkable results. So far, there has been a 60 percent increase in the rate of students who pass the California state exam for physical fitness, and this new partnership is continuing to reach even more children. Finally, someone’s taking action to prevent childhood obesity, and simply put, it’s paying off. With a little opportunity and guidance, we’re seeing that these kids can make positive changes in their health, which in turn is brightening their future.
Dr. David Feinberg is the President of UCLA Health System and Chief Executive Officer for the UCLA Hospital System. Dr. Feinberg is a clinical professor of psychiatry in the David School of Medicine at UCLA and was named among the “50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders” in the US by Modern Healthcare in 2014. He is committed to enhancing the patient experience and upholding the highest clinical standards for patient care and safety.
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