Читать книгу The Movement and Technology Balance - Traci Lengel - Страница 28

What is happening to the overall wellness of our society? If you were asked to predict statistics regarding obesity, nutrition, physical inactivity, and causes of death or illness, what would you say? The reality is that our civilization has taken a downward dive when it comes to our overall public health and well-being. It is imperative for our society to bring the value of physically active lifestyles back to the forefront. As a culture and as educational advisers, we must take these disturbing statistics seriously as we unite and construct active plans to battle these formidable extremes. Ponder this data with worry and allow it to serve as motivation for you in becoming a pioneer who combats these trends with energy, confidence, and conviction. The figures that follow (reviewed in 2017 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) are alarming and demand our direct attention and action:

 More than 80% of adults do not meet the guidelines for aerobic and muscular-strengthening activities, and more than 80% of adolescents do not get enough aerobic physical activity to meet the guidelines for youth.

 Twenty-eight percent of Americans (80.2 million people) age six and older are physically inactive.

 Reports project that by 2030, half of adults (115 million) in the United States will be obese.

 Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.

 Prevalence of obesity from the early 1970s to 2007/2008 has doubled for ages 2–5, quadrupled for ages 6–11, tripled for ages 12–19, and doubled for adults.

 Obesity-related illness, including chronic disease, disability, and death, is estimated to carry an annual cost of $190.2 billion.

The bottom line is that we are not making wise choices when it comes to our behaviors, routines, and habits in order to maintain good health. We’ve gone from a society of movers to one that is obsessed with technology usage, social seclusion, poor nutritional selections, and inactivity. It is devastating to think that we might be headed for extinction. This descending plunge can be redirected with purposeful intention that starts in our educational environments. If we look at Figure 2.1, there is clear evidence that as technology usage rates have risen, so have obesity levels. We will explore technology overload in Chapter 3, but the evidence sufficiently supports a required need for a cultural transformation. Excessive digital usage is damaging our minds, bodies, and well-being; educators are encouraged to be the trailblazers in this revolution. As school systems play a significant role in shaping our youth, balancing movement and technology in the classroom is a starting point that must be applied immediately. We owe it to ourselves, our future, and our existence.