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Physical activity at school vital

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published January 19, 2007

A number as vital as test score Jan. 16 Andrew Skerritt column

It is refreshing to see someone taking note of the problem. It is a huge problem, though, one that most people fail to fully acknowledge.

We begin to establish our life-long dietary habits, and our body tissues and organs begin to store fat cells almost from birth. If our diets consist of a preponderance of bad fats (saturated and trans fats), instead of the healthy fats (omega 3 and 6) that we so desperately need, our bodies cannot effectively break down or metabolize them, nor properly utilize the smaller amount of good fats that we may be eating.

The resulting metabolic and other problems greatly increase our risk for developing heart disease, arthritis, cancer, etc., in addition to obesity and diabetes. These are diseases that have traditionally affected only older adults, but are now afflicting increasingly younger children.

Any modifications that the schools have made thus far, while commendable, are token efforts at best. The recent push to eliminate trans fats throughout the fast-food industry should have been a major wake-up call to all of us that we must begin taking a more proactive approach toward establishing healthy diets for ourselves and our children.

We must educate and equip our children for not only maintaining proper health and fitness, but also to overcome the ill effects of the sedentary, fast-food lifestyles that have proliferated our society for the past 30-plus years.

The children's menus of most restaurants are still typically dominated by high fat and high sodium items, including fried fish sticks, fried chicken fingers, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, etc., while the reduced fat and low-sodium items are aggressively marketed to adults.

Just as critical to a developing child's classroom performance and self esteem is his/her level of physical fitness. I have been wondering for the past 20 years what ever became of the President's Council of Physical Fitness and Sports. I recently did an Internet query and discovered that they do have a decent Web site, and were looking for organizations to partner with them and promote their agenda in communities throughout the country. This was to commemorate their 50th anniversary in 2006.

How have our priorities gotten so far out of whack? It has apparently been more important to raise the elusive politically correct, super-achieving little robot.

If we take back the responsibility of raising physically active and healthy kids, the rest will easily follow. Thirty to 45 minutes of regimented, enjoyable physical activity during the early part of a school day can have remarkable benefits to test scores, and even controlling classroom behavior. But don't wait until middle or high school, and don't make it optional.

Steve Davis, Port Richey

Mortgagees will have no option

I guess I don't get why everyone is so excited about the so-called "optional" sinkhole coverage that looks like it's about to pass. The only people this is going to be optional for are the ones with no mortgages. How come the Times or any of our elected officials aren't addressing that little item?

What's going to happen when the mortgage companies tell us we have to carry that type of coverage or they'll either call the loan or not offer the loan to perspective new home buyers? Who is going to help the rest of us trying to raise families and pay for the added coverage of sinkhole policies because of the loss of premiums for those without mortgages?

Am I the only person who thought of this? Hello, politicians, we need to legalize gambling in this state to pick up the slack and fund a disaster fund. Otherwise, Florida is going to become the foreclosure capital of the country.

Michelle Flood, New Port Richey

She touches hearts of all 

Never too young to lend a hand Jan. 17 story

What a great treat to read about the school district's youth volunteer of the year, Katelynn Tucker. What a dynamo at such a young age! Her heart has touched more people in her relatively young life than some do in a full lifetime.

Keep up the great work in and out of your community.

Sherry Williamson, Lutz

[Last modified January 19, 2007, 07:05:46]