Obesity is gradually attaining epidemic proportions in India and around the world. People are getting obese cutting across country, class, and economic status.
Lack of physical exercise, eating junk food, and a lack of awareness are fuelling the rising incidence of obesity.
Brishan (the name he chooses to go by), a former British army officer and PE instructor says, "Children definitely lack fitness these days, as over the years schools have become more academic-oriented than concentrating on the physical aspect in children."
According to Brishan who has been a PE instructor at some of Bangalore's top schools like Catherdrals, St Joseph's Boys high school and National Public school believes children should have definite time slots between their strenuous academic schedule for physical activities and games.
"Children are very talented, all they need is motivation. It is very important to have a physical and psychological balance" says Brishan.
Obesity means having an excessive amount of body fat. The terms overweight and obesity are officially defined using the Body Mass Index (BMI), a scale that identifies healthy, overweight, and obese weight ranges.
"It is important to keep a check on a child's eating habits. A healthy and nutritious diet will render a healthy body and thus a healthy mind," adds Brishan.
"These days we tend to eat larger food servings, we snack more, and we consume more high-calorie, low-nutrition food. Problem foods include soft drinks, chips, 'lollies', and snack bars," he adds
Looking back on his days in the British army Brishan recollects a very strenuous fitness regime, endurance workouts and artillery training.
"The daily fitness schedule in military training for us has been very perspiring and inspiring at the same time. When training to be soldiers we were required to have an athletic body with rigorous endurance training. Children don't need such rigorous workouts to stay fit. They just need endurance warm-ups, food cooked at home and regular intervals for physical activities and games," says Brishan.
"As it is said 'have breakfast like a king and dinner like a pauper'. Children should be given a somewhat heavy breakfast and a light dinner. Food should never be stuffed in, especially at dinner as it results in accumulation of fat," he adds.
According to Brishan, children should be kept away from the TV; the energy should be restored and participation in four major games at schools is a must.
"Schools must have a definite timetable which should include participation in the four major games in India which are football, hockey, basketball and volleyball," says Brishan
The Three Cardinal Rules of physical education if cordially followed are ideal for a healthy mind and body in children, he claims.
"A few rules to be followed are gradually enhancing the load on the body [taking each physical activity step by step] straining each part of the body equally [involving each body part with equal no of repetitions] and equal amount of exercise and continuity to be maintained [no gaps between a set of exercises]," says Brishan.
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