OBESITY: The Real Issue!

Nine million American students, more than 30% of children are overweight or obese. With such a rate climbing higher and higher everyday why is it that physical educators are always seen on the low end of the totem pole. And the schools aren't helping! Schools are making the problem worse when they eliminate PE and recess in order to improve academic scores. We need to look at all of the life threatening consequences of obesity before we decide to axe PE class. Obesity is linked to health problems including; diabetes, heart disease and arthritis not to mention lowering a students self esteem causing possible depression. So with all these cold hard facts why is it that only 4% of elementary schools, 8% of middle schools and 2% of high schools provide daily physical education?  Although the limited PE time there are outside organizations trying to help with obesity, "The Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) is working to reduce obesity and obesity-related conditions through state programs, technical assistance and training, leadership, surveillance and research, intervention development and evaluation, translation of practice-based evidence and research findings, and partnership development."  The NFL is also making some great progress with their new, "Play 60" initiative. They have various NFL players talk to kids about being physically fit and show them new and improved ways to have fun while exercising. Their mission is to get all kids to participate in physical activity for atleast 60 minutes each day. I feel there should be more outside organizations to show the importance of physical activity and schools should know the importance PE class has on children and their future.
(http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/, http://www.nflrush.com/play60)