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Volume 41, Issue 6
November 11, 2003
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January 20, 2004
Obesity in college increasing
answer to trend may be physical education
Tyler Williams
Contributing Writer
One of the most quickly growing epidemics among college students is
obesity, which is attributed to physical inactivity and poor eating habits.
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 630,000 people from
the ages of 18 to 20 are at least 30 pounds overweight.
The “freshman fifteen” is an old saying that refers to the
15 pounds a college student may gain during the first year of college,
which can be attributed to binge drinking, excessive eating, and cessation
of physical activity.
The suggestion has been made that to help prevent students from becoming
overweight would take at least six required credit hours of exercise classes
as many colleges did in the 1970s and 1980s.
At MCC, an array of classes is offered to students in the realm of exercise
science, but no physical education classes are required for graduation.
Sophomore student Ben Lawson has seen some of the benefits a physical
education class over the past year.
Lawson, a former wrestler in high school, saw his weight increase to 50
pounds over his normal weight in little more than his first semester of
college due to lack of physical activity.
In the spring semester of 2003, he decided to take the lifetime fitness
class at MCC to whip himself back into shape.
“The class was unbelievable; I lost nearly 30 pounds in the first
two months of the class just from exercising 30 minutes, four times a
week and a healthy diet,” Lawson said. “It has also given
me a renewed sense of self worth and helped get me out of my semi-depression
I felt like I was going through.”
Matt Rhea, who teaches a strength and fitness class at MCC and is a personal
trainer, said the key to significant weight loss is eating right and resistance
training with weights.
“If you want to see huge gain in weight loss, you must work out
with free weights in order to turn your fat into muscle, and building
muscle helps speed up your metabolism, which results in faster weight
loss.”
“I believe it is very important for a student to take some physical
education classes just to stay active, and it seems to improve socializing
skills as well,” Rhea added.
Another way to get involved with physical education at MCC is to join
the Exercise Science and Physical Education student club.
The club director, Pam Olerich, began the student organization with the
intention of promoting and increasing the knowledge of exercise and helping
with a lifetime of physical activity.
The club meets regularly so members can provide one another with new information
in the world of physical education and exercise, and the club is open
to any student who wants to join.
“Our club members are very dedicated and bright. We just want to
see our whole community join us in the fight for healthy living and cut
down on some of the weight issues we have in this country, and we are
just trying to do our part by educating,” Olerich said.Olerich also
believes the lack of required classes for physical education has contributed
to the increases in weight for college students.
The courses MCC offers in the physical education department provide a
wide variety and are not just the traditional weight training classes.
Students can choose from classes like bowling, golf, basketball, fencing,
karate and many more.
Sophomore Kyle Walker took a basketball class at MCC and said it reminded
him of his childhood.
“It’s almost like recess for me, like when I was in elementary
school. I take my English class, then I have basketball and then I go
back to my math class. It is nice to have a relaxing break in between
those classes,” Walker explained.
People on MCC’s campus have varying opinions about physical education.
Steve Hart is the person who goes to the gym to impress the women.
“I love having a weight training class at school because I can get
my core classes done then after that I can go to the Health Improvement
Center and work on my bulging biceps for the girls,” Hart said.
Sophomore Joe Ziri plays on the MCC men’s basketball team and took
a weight training course to help get ready for the season.
“I worked on my guns (arms) for strength to go against the big college
guys and then I worked on my hops to help me soar over the players. It
seems to have really helped my game,” Ziri said.
Jaime Alvarez is opposed to the idea of having a mandatory physical education
class.
“I had to do it in elementary school, middle school, and high school.
I’m in college now and college is about making your own choices
and I choose not to take an exercise class and nobody can make me take
one,” Alvarez said.
“Physical activity is the key to a healthy and long life, we need
everybody in the world working out so we can enjoy one another’s
company for many more years,” Olerich explained.
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