Obesity Myth #5 in the New England Journal of Medicine paper on
myths, presumptions and facts about obesity, deals with the
common assumption that reintroduction of physical-education
classes may go a long way in preventing or reducing childhood
obesity. While physical education and increased physical
activity (both in and outside school) may have all kinds of
benefits for kids, reducing obesity rates may not be one of
them. Thus, the authors note, “Physical education, as typically
provided, has not been shown to reduce or prevent obesity.” They
base this position on the fact that, “…in three studies that
focused on expanded time in physical education indicated that
even though there was an increase in the number of days children
attended physical-education classes, the effects on body-mass
index (BMI) were inconsistent across sexes and age groups.” “Two
meta-analyses showed that even specialized school-based programs
that promoted physical activity were ineffective in reducing BMI
or the incidence or prevale