Strangely enough, physical education teachers were the first to sound the alarm about rising obesity among schoolchildren. For years, they’ve watched students struggle with even basic tasks like a single pull‑up, gasping for air during a simple run. The messenger may be unpopular, yet the concern is real and persistent.
What exactly is physical education at school? Who really needs it? What are those ski exercises for? The physical education teacher can feel like a background character in the school story, often forgotten at home while other subjects fill the day with quizzes and homework. What might such a teacher ask a class to do? Run a short distance at home? Bounce a ball? Throw it thirty feet? Sketch a page about sports in their notebook? It can seem like a mystery, a distant goal rather than a practical daily habit.
Parents seldom voice worries; by ninth grade, many still do not see their child climbing a rope as a shared milestone. Meanwhile, the chorus of excuses to skip PE grows louder and more creative.
Then the truth lands: childhood obesity is nearly a national issue. Official statistics reveal that the number of obese young people has surged many times over in recent years. Today, as many as a quarter of children in many regions struggle with excess weight, a figure that varies by province or state but averages out to one in four youths.
Obesity, it must be understood, does not appear from a cold environment or a single bad choice. It arises from a pattern—consistent overeating day after day, month after month—while obvious signs of change show up in a child’s growing size before anyone asks questions.
Critics may point to fast food or the bustle of food courts as the root of the problem. Yet research shows obesity occurs in places with both high and low access to fast food. The story isn’t simply burgers and sodas; it’s about patterns, availability, and choices that add up over time.
Today, doctors—often those who think about physical education as a partner in health—argue that obesity stems from a lack of regular activity and poor nutrition in youth.
The bigger picture suggests a family influence. A well-known saying from Britain captures the idea: “If you want to teach your children, start by teaching yourself.” A child’s enthusiasm for PE often mirrors the example set by adults at home. When parents prefer the couch to movement, it’s hard to spark a child’s interest in physical activity. The same goes for food: if adults reach for chips habitually, it’s hard to police a child’s diet without looking hypocritical.
Many people hope the issue will fade with time, chalking it up to adolescence and a temporary phase. Grandparents might recall that adolescence often brings a momentary weight shift and reassure with a wink. Yet waiting for a trend to change on its own rarely works.
Time is precious here. In past generations, puberty brought hormonal changes that helped some youths shed weight naturally. People moved more—walking to stores, running errands, even trudging four kilometers to school. In rural settings, chores and outdoor work kept bodies active from morning till night.
Today, convenience has reshaped daily routines. If someone wants food, they can order it and have it delivered. Elevators and elevators’ accessibility reduce the physical effort of daily life. Getting from home to school, once a walk or bus ride, can now be a few taps away, and the pace of life grows faster.
Covid-19 worsened the trend. Lockdowns reduced activity for many children, and comfort foods gained appeal as families adjusted to new routines. With more sweets and snacks in the mix, movement often declined further. The result: a generation that eats more and moves less, which compounds weight gain.
The takeaway is simple: a life of ease may feel comfortable, but it does not equate to health.
Medical experts warn that if current habits persist, a large share of obese adolescents could carry the condition into adulthood.
And so the focus returns to the physical education teacher. Those 45 minutes of activity three times a week may not seem dramatic, yet they represent a foothold. Small steps can matter: swapping late-night donuts for a walk with a child, or aiming for a modest goal like a thousand steps instead of zero. Small, steady efforts can lay a foundation for bigger changes.
The perspective offered here reflects a personal stance rather than an official position, and it may differ from other viewpoints in the conversation.