Today there has been much hcontroversy concerning the weight of teenagers. For some people, the issue is anorexia and the act of being underweight. For others, the issue is binge-eating and the act of being overweight or obese. But whether the issue is being underweight or overweight there is plenty that the educational system can do to help the students maintain a healthy weight.
The first thing that schools can do is educate. If you start explaining the importance of nutrition and a healthy weight it can encourage them to eat right. A teen cannot maintain correct nutrition and health without knowing how or the importance of it. For most teenagers, if they do not understand something or don't have to do it they won't. It is important to teach them what being overweight can do to your body and health. Once a teenager knows the risks of being underweight and how life-threatening it is they will not feel as tempted to skip out on meals. Being educated can make a huge difference. You cannot fix or change something without knowing why or how.
The next thing that schools can do is have a Physical Education class. You should have the option of either taking Athletics, for sports, or taking a Physical Education class, for health. If a student does not wish to do sports they should be required to take a Physical Education class for a certain amount of years to learn how to exercise healthy. In a health class or home economics class students can learn about nutrition and why you should exercise. But in Physical Education class they will learn ways to exercise healthy. The coach should teach his students ways to exercise and stretch without doing something dangerous and pushing themselves too hard. In this class, they will not only get the amount of exercise they need daily but also know how to exercise without ruining their muscles.
Another thing the school system can do is offer support for students who are having difficulties maintaining a healthy weight. Students who are struggling with anorexia or obesity cannot get better without support from peers. It is important that there is a school counselor on campus willing to help teens with these issues. Have a discussion with the students to inform them of how important it is to be healthy right now for the present and the future. Explain to them that the counselor is willing to provide support for whatever they are struggling with at the moment and that the coaches and other staff will answer any questions the might have.
Finally, positivity is the most important thing of all to help students be healthy. If a school is dark and continually filled with negative emotion the student will feel triggered and not encouraged to be healthy. Things such as bullying from peers can affect the health of an adolescent. Therefore, teaching the importance of happiness and kindness can also help teenagers. Being positive will encourage students to be healthy but negativity will cause depression which can result in anorexia or purging.
All in all, adolescents need to be educated and encouraged to maintain a healthy weight without being chastised. If schools do what they do best and educate it will make a world of difference. Being healthy is a choice and one cannot make it without being informed.
