Obesity In Australia

Right now people are discussing the importance of physical education from years 8-12. Some people believe it is important because it can reduce obesity rates and make children fitter. However, there are some people that think physical education is not important and it should be the choice of the student, or that it would have no effect on obesity rates. One of the most important issues with teenagers these days is obesity. Australia has been ranked as one of the highest countries in obesity, and it has been doubling in size in the previous 20 years. Australian Bureau Statistics supported this by stating “In 2011-12, 62.8% of Australians aged 18 years and over were overweight or obese, comprised of 35.3% overweight and 27.5% obese.” This statement

Firstly, it keeps children physically active. Laziness these days is one of the biggest problems for teenagers. Teenagers seem more interested in their phones than being healthy. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) supported this statement by saying that “childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years.” This statement indicates this generation of children are becoming more inactive, and that is worrying because it could lead to health issues. Having P.E be compulsory in years 8-12 will help children possess a healthy life for not only when they are teenagers, but throughout their adult years. However, not only does it help with a healthy life, it also helps to prevent life threatening diseases or body difficulties when you’re older such as back pain, diabetes, heart disease and

Physical education may be very beneficial for student’s health, but it really should be the student’s choice. There are some students that aren’t the best at physical education and are behind in grades. Although helpful for people’s health, this is unfair to make it compulsory especially when they aren’t good at it. When year 11’s and 12’s are doing SACE subjects, for people that aren’t that skilled in physical education they would be wasting a subject where they could actually be doing something they enjoy and something they’re good at. Doing that would then bring their ATAR score down and perhaps prevent them from getting the right marks for the university of their choice. Debatewise agreed by indicating that “Students should be allowed a choice. Lots of children don’t want to do this. If their parents agree, why should they be forced to (or forced to lie in producing a sick note)?” This statement shows that if the student and the parents do not wish for the student to do physical education, why should