Different explanations are offered for America's weight problem--a problem increasingly shared by other countries.
Different
explanations
are
offered
for
America
's
weight
problem
--
a
problem
increasingly
shared
by
other
countries
.
Almost one-fifth of American children and teenagers are overweight.
Almost
one-fifth
of
American
children
and
teenagers
are
overweight
.
Schools have been urged to increase physical education, an important tool for public health.
Schools
have
been
urged
to
increase
physical
education
,
an
important
tool
for
public
health
.
And many have.
And
many
have
.
Yet now comes a study showing an increase in the number of injuries in "physical" class.
Yet
now
comes
a
study
showing
an
increase
in
the
number
of
injuries
in
``
physical
''
class
.
Injuries increased 150% between 1997 and 2007.
Injuries
increased
150
%
between
1997
and
2007
.
The study involved injuries treated in hospital emergency departments.
The
study
involved
injuries
treated
in
hospital
emergency
departments
.
Only 2% were serious.
Only
2
%
were
serious
.
The researchers did not try to identify the causes of the increase, but they have some theories.
The
researchers
did
not
try
to
identify
the
causes
of
the
increase
,
but
they
have
some
theories
.
Lara McKenzie from Ohio State University was the lead researcher.
Lara
McKenzie
from
Ohio
State
University
was
the
lead
researcher
.
She says one possibility is a decrease in the number of school nurses during the period they studied.
She
says
one
possibility
is
a
decrease
in
the
number
of
school
nurses
during
the
period
they
studied
.
For example, a 2004 study showed that the number of school nurses nationally failed to meet federal guidelines.
For
example
,
a
2004
study
showed
that
the
number
of
school
nurses
nationally
failed
to
meet
federal
guidelines
.
Schools without a nurse on duty may be more likely to send an injured child to a hospital.
Schools
without
a
nurse
on
duty
may
be
more
likely
to
send
an
injured
child
to
a
hospital
.
Another possible reason for more injuries is a change in the traditional idea of physical education.
Another
possible
reason
for
more
injuries
is
a
change
in
the
traditional
idea
of
physical
education
.
This "New P.E."
This
``
New
P.E
.
''
expands the kinds of sports that are taught.
expands
the
kinds
of
sports
that
are
taught
.
But activities that some schools offer now, like rock climbing walls and skateboarding, can also expand the risks, says Cheryl Richardson.
But
activities
that
some
schools
offer
now
,
like
rock
climbing
walls
and
skateboarding
,
can
also
expand
the
risks
,
says
Cheryl
Richardson
.
She is with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
She
is
with
the
National
Association
for
Sport
and
Physical
Education
.
Also, she says not all states require P.E.
Also
,
she
says
not
all
states
require
P.E
.
teachers to be specially trained.
teachers
to
be
specially
trained
.
Untrained teachers could be less likely to recognize unsafe conditions.
Untrained
teachers
could
be
less
likely
to
recognize
unsafe
conditions
.
Cheryl Richardson also points to one of the study's findings--that injuries are often the result of contact with a person or a structure.
Cheryl
Richardson
also
points
to
one
of
the
study
's
findings
--
that
injuries
are
often
the
result
of
contact
with
a
person
or
a
structure
.
This tells her that the teachers were not giving each student enough space to move around safely.
This
tells
her
that
the
teachers
were
not
giving
each
student
enough
space
to
move
around
safely
.
Six activities produced seventy percent of all injuries: running, basketball, football, volleyball, soccer and gymnastics.
Six
activities
produced
seventy
percent
of
all
injuries
:
running
,
basketball
,
football
,
volleyball
,
soccer
and
gymnastics
.
The researchers say larger class sizes are another possible reason for the increase in injuries.
The
researchers
say
larger
class
sizes
are
another
possible
reason
for
the
increase
in
injuries
.
Larger classes can mean less supervision.
Larger
classes
can
mean
less
supervision
.
Different explanations are offered for America's weight problem--a problem increasingly shared by other countries. Almost one-fifth of American children and teenagers are overweight.  Schools have been urged to increase physical education, an important tool for public health. And many have. Yet now comes a study showing an increase in the number of injuries in "physical" class. Injuries increased 150% between 1997 and 2007. The study involved injuries treated in hospital emergency departments. Only 2% were serious.  The researchers did not try to identify the causes of the increase, but they have some theories. Lara McKenzie from Ohio State University was the lead researcher. She says one possibility is a decrease in the number of school nurses during the period they studied. For example, a 2004 study showed that the number of school nurses nationally failed to meet federal guidelines. Schools without a nurse on duty may be more likely to send an injured child to a hospital.  Another possible reason for more injuries is a change in the traditional idea of physical education. This "New P.E." expands the kinds of sports that are taught. But activities that some schools offer now, like rock climbing walls and skateboarding, can also expand the risks, says Cheryl Richardson. She is with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Also, she says not all states require P.E. teachers to be specially trained. Untrained teachers could be less likely to recognize unsafe conditions. Cheryl Richardson also points to one of the study's findings--that injuries are often the result of contact with a person or a structure. This tells her that the teachers were not giving each student enough space to move around safely.  Six activities produced seventy percent of all injuries: running, basketball, football, volleyball, soccer and gymnastics.  The researchers say larger class sizes are another possible reason for the increase in injuries. Larger classes can mean less supervision.