Well I would disagree that there are huge percentages of overweight people... I'm from the country, and I'm overweight, and growing up and even now looking around the town where I live there aren't many fat kids at all. maybe there are in the western suburbs of Sydney or something, I have no clue where all the fat people live, but all I was saying that it isn't where I have grown up, that's for sure.
The whole media hype about this isn't helping. The reason I got larger was because I was teased about being large and singled out because of the way I looked. hence, I got depressed. hence, I was too embarrassed to do sports because I was crap at sport (during the early years of high school I was too self concious to even do swimming at school and used to beg my mother not to make me go... it was hell). hence I was more depressed, and hence ate more. And hence got fatter. At the moment fat kids are the "evil" of australia and instead of actually helping them they are being singled out and ostracized even more which is probably contributing to the problem.
In my opinion, it is not about sport and food at all really. A huge part of it is about self esteem. Now that I'm an adult who after years of being teased has hardened to it and doesn't give a shit any more, I have started to lose weight. I have also been able to eat healthier because I have more say in what I eat. I think when you feel better about yourself, you are more inclined to eat more healthily and exercise and participate in sports. So maybe we should be increasing kids' self esteem through government funded programs rather than making them run around school ovals and making those who are coming last feel more and more inadequate. Boosting self esteem will help kids in other areas too. It may make them more motivated in school, or reduce crime/binge drinking. I think if we boost kids' self esteem then they will become healthier, both physically and mentally. This is my opinion however, after years of being the fat kid.......
