We Can Dance!

Every year when new facts are posted about the rising rates of childhood obesity Americans are forced to step back and analyze, “What went wrong?!” Increasing cases of childhood obesity stem from habits that become ingrained the moment we can grasp a McFlurry. I definitely understand the urge to plop onto my half-burnt, but oh-so-comfortable couch from WVU to watch a little television with my friend Ronald McDonald. However, in order to reverse the trend new habits must grow to overpower (or even out) this type of addicting sensation. When ideas about safe body images and healthy exercise regiments are introduced to children in specific ways, children may inherently grow to avoid becoming a part of negative statistics. Exercise is the number one way to fend off those empty calories. It is important for exercise to be fun so it can become like second nature instead of a “chore” (or a class credit needed for graduation). As we all know, the later in life one decides to alter their damaging physical and mental habits, the more difficult it becomes to reverse the effects that already exist.

On July 27, 2008 freelance writer Tom Purcell wrote an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review titled “Shaping up our fat kids.” His view on obesity left a lot of the blame on modern parenting practices. He mentioned a 2007 study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health that reported “the body-mass index of kindergartners and first-graders increase[d] 2 to 3 times as fast during the summer than during the rest of the year.”  Weight gain in the summer has nothing to do with the fact that physical education classes “are offered in fewer than 10 percent of public schools.” His article emphasized nostalgia for the 70’s “stubborn parent” archetype.

I admit, when I was young I despised being subjected to strict parenting (we had to check off our chores daily from list posted on the refrigerator). Regardless, I do believe that fast food should be socialized as novelty items (to be eaten when traveling) rather than everyday supplements. Because parents are the ones driving the mini-vans, they should be the ones with the courage to put the pedal to the metal as those golden arches whizz by their children’s puppy-dog eyes. If you (or your children) really have an insatiable sweet tooth, try working for your reward. During the summer when I was growing up my mother would organize neighborhood bike rides to the nearest Rita’s Italian Ice. We probably did not lose weight, but we definitely stayed even, and had fun! Also, if you are just generally pressed for time, look up some recipes in Rachael Ray’s 30-minute meal cookbook. Those meals are easy and delicious.

Here’s a link to the Rachael Ray recipe book that I bought my parents:

http://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Ray-365-Repeats-Deliciously/dp/1400082544

Tom Purcell’s article:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n27980100

In a world where ideas about self-image dominate our media, the issue of child obesity in America may seem like a rehashed, unsolvable problem. People tend to become desensitized as opposed to concerned when they hear only surface level complaints or filtered facts about a subject. My Dance Pedagogy class at the University of Pittsburgh is dedicated to taking action. We are introducing dance as a healthy exercise regiment in physical education classes. We will be entering three different Pittsburgh schools on multiple occasions to teach and promote the social, physical, and historical aspects of dance. Our lessons aim to maintain physical activity for at least thirty minutes while engaging in popular and ethic dances. Our program is educational, but under the façade of recreation. We have decided to research and create different dance curriculums involving French, Japanese, German, African, Indian, and Spanish folk dancing as well as varieties of Hip-Hop, Stepping, Tap, and Jazz.

Everybody can get involved in making Pittsburgh a healthier place! By recognizing the positive aspects of dance and then motivating others to join in, a single person can aid in the effort for Americans to salsa, shimmy, and slide their way to positive and consistent lifestyles.

On September 19, 2008 our team will be visiting Arsenal Middle School to perform and introduce ourselves to the students! Keep in touch for updates, pictures, and videos about our progress and experiences in this study.

For further information on the HEALTHY program check out their official press release. It explains the experiment mentioned in my ABOUT page in more detail. 

http://www.slick-graphics.com/misc/pressrelease-ecf16.docx