Poor health and obesity, and the chronic diseases that accompany them, cost this country billions of dollars. President Donald Trump, alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is on a mission to end that, and he’s starting with our children.
It’s often said that you can’t outrun a bad diet. The implication is that no matter how much we may exercise, it’s what we put in our mouths daily that predominantly determines health outcomes.
This is largely true. Still, the decline in physical activity, particularly among America’s youth, is distressing. Shoulders slumped, eyes locked into a screen, their still developing brains and bodies have turned to mush. Literally.
Approximately one in five, or over 22% of children are considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s about 14.7 million kids between the age of 2 and 19. Not only is that disturbing, but it is also unacceptable and unsustainable.
America has well surpassed the 3 trillion-dollar mark on health care expenditures, which has increased seven times faster than the rate of inflation over the past four decades. Our tax dollars should not be covering chronic disease for children. The traditional hallmarks of adolescence—good health, energy, vigor, the lack of rickety cracking bones—these are the simple joys of being young. Prudence and wisdom may be lacking, but these signs of vitality should not be.
Convincing kids to loosen their grip on their digital devices and run and play outside can be a daunting task for parents these days. Trump has stepped in to help by reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test for American children.
The test was formally initiated in 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, although President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness 10 years prior. However, it was President John F. Kennedy who really emphasized the health—or lack thereof—of America’s youth, lamenting in a 1960 essay in Sports Illustrated that too many citizens had become “soft Americans.” Instead, Kennedy, as proclaimed by his nephew, believed Americans should maintain “beef jerky toughness.” President Barack Obama phased out the test in 2013, favoring a more “holistic approach” to health.
After decades of infantilizing our children, it’s high time to resurrect a little bit of tough love and a competitive spirit among America’s youth. Fitness challenges and team sports not only help children maintain good physical health but also have numerous other well-documented benefits.
Studies have shown that children who participate in regular activity and sports have reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression by 20-30%. They also find a 15-20% higher rate of self-esteem and better body image than nonparticipants. This effect seems to be even stronger in girls, providing a bulwark against societal pressures and social media influence.
In addition, physically active kids demonstrate enhanced academic performance and improved executive function. Finally, as any child athlete will tell you, playing sports teaches invaluable social lessons like how to cooperate, communicate, and manage conflict. Those who regularly engage in physical activity build disciplinary skills and good habits that can last long after the diploma is received.
I am the beneficiary of a love affair with movement and athletics. I tried everything when I was young—swimming, soccer, track and field, you name it. Eventually it was dance, cheerleading, and tennis that stuck with me. To be honest, I was never the best at anything I did. However, I strived to be, and it was that drive and dedication that helped launch my passions into a long-standing career in the dance and fitness industries.
While I have transitioned to a bit more sedentary occupation, my good habits have served me well. I schedule my day to ensure I have time to work out. When in the city, I opt for walking over an Uber. It’s just a part of who I am. I don’t think twice about it. I am proud to say there is not one orange bottle of pills in my cabinets.
Establishing healthy physical activity habits are an imperative this country can no longer afford to ignore.
Not everyone has to be great. Not everyone has to be a winner. But in the pursuit of both greatness and victory, we can help kids lead healthier and more fulfilling lives. Seeing our children thrive and. as a byproduct, saving billions of dollars in health care will be the biggest flex of all.
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The post From ‘Soft Americans’ to ‘Beef Jerky Toughness’: Reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test Is Way Overdue appeared first on The Daily Signal.