Re: Overweight students at university in US told to take fitness class or risk d

[Guest guest]

Why oh why, do people persistently get this one in their mind, that " muscle

weighs more than fat " and don't comprehend how stupid they are? 1 pound of

muscle and 1 pound of fat weights exactly 1 pound, though typically, that muscle

mass will be *denser* than the fat. That being said, a body builder (or just

someone with a naturally dense and large muscular structure) may readily exceed

the BMI, so going on a BMI alone is incredibly stupid, and such things should be

accounted for when applying such a blind statistic. However, they're being

sufficiently broad-minded for range where a BMI of below 30 isn't too likely to

be considered a false positive, because it's actually difficult for most people

to get to a BMI of 30 without being overweight. Right now, my BMI is very close

to that (and shouldn't be) but, unlike the majority of the population, despite

that, I can run half-marathons, though I know I'd be healthier and happier if it

were down to about 24.1-25 where I seem to have an optimal physical endurance

and strength: I'm not built with a small frame, and to get any lighter would

require me to give up muscle mass. I would love to be able to have the BMI of

30 but have a normal % lean/fat ratio, as that'd make me very strong in terms of

muscles: I'd need to gain at least 20-30 pounds of lean muscle mass from what my

body already has, and frankly, I don't see that being very feasible short of

steroids combined with hours every day of working out. However, endomorphs (I

think that's the name of the largest, most muscular structure with large bone

structures) may relatively readily achieve such BMI's with a regular lean/fat

ratio.

Now, while it may seem unfair, we do have to remember one thing that is

mentioned in this article: the students affected signed up for the school with

knowledge of that stipulation, and they've had several years to shape up or not

be able to ship out without an extra class. Why is this becoming an issue only

now, and why wasn't it an issue to start with? And, as the article says:

they're just required to take the extra class, not to change the shape they're

in. Well, they are an institution with a professed goal of providing a

well-rounded education, and not well-rounded students There are schools with

codes of conduct requirements that also include dress/hygiene code more strict

than being on a public street requires, and it doesn't seem there's been major

problems regarding those requirements.

>

>

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091120/health/health_us_college_graduation_fi\

tness?printer=1

>

> Overweight students at university in US told to take fitness class or risk

diplomas

>

> Fri Nov 20, 7:47 PM

>

>

> By Kathy Matheson, The Associated Press

>

> PHILADELPHIA - A university's requirement that overweight undergraduates take

a fitness course to receive their degrees has raised the hackles of students and

the eyebrows of health and legal experts.

>

> Officials at historically black Lincoln University said Friday that the school

is simply concerned about high rates of obesity and diabetes, especially in the

African-American community.

>

> " We know we're in the midst of an obesity epidemic, " said L. DeBoy,

chairman of Lincoln's department of health, physical education and recreation.

" We have an obligation to address this head on, knowing full well there's going

to be some fallout. "

>

> The fallout began this week on Lincoln's campus about 45 miles (70 kilometres)

southwest of Philadelphia, where seniors - the first class affected by the

mandate - began realizing their last chance to take the class would be this

spring.

>

>

> Tiana Lawson, a 21-year-old senior, wrote in this week's edition of The

Lincolnian, the student newspaper, that she " didn't come to Lincoln to be told

that my weight is not in an acceptable range. I came here to get an education. "

>

> In an interview Friday, Lawson said she has no problem with getting healthy or

losing weight. But she does have a problem with larger students being singled

out.

>

> " If Lincoln truly is concerned about everyone being healthy, then everyone

should have to take this gym class, not just people who happen to be bigger, "

she said.

>

> The mandate, which took effect for freshmen entering in fall 2006, requires

students to get tested for their body mass index, a measure of weight to height.

>

> A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9. Students with one that's 30 or above -

considered obese - are required to take a class called " Fitness for Life, " which

meets three hours a week.

>

> The course involves walking, aerobics, weight training and other physical

activities, as well as information on nutrition, stress and sleep, DeBoy said.

>

> As of this fall, DeBoy estimated about 80 seniors - 16 per cent of the class -

had not had their body mass index tested nor taken the fitness class. Some of

those students will likely be exempt from taking the class once they get their

BMI results, he said.

>

> Health experts applaud the school's intent, if not its execution. Mark

Rothstein, director of the bioethics institute at the University of Louisville's

School of Medicine, said being forced to disclose such health information is " at

least awkward and often distasteful. "

>

> And it doesn't necessarily lead to the best outcomes, he said, noting that

" when the (health) goals are imposed on people, they don't do that well in

meeting them. "

>

> DeBoy stressed that students are not required to lose weight or lower their

BMI; they must only pass the class through attendance and participation.

>

> " It's the sound mind and the sound body concept, " DeBoy said. " I think the

university, to its credit, is trying to be proactive. "

>

> Some experts said recent amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act

might lead to exemptions for morbidly obese students, who could argue that

participating in the class would be dangerous.

>

> Also, students need more than exercise, said Marcia Costello, a registered

dietitian in the Philadelphia area. The university should make sure its dining

halls and vending machines offer healthy choices, she said.

>

> Costello, an assistant professor of nursing at Villanova University, also

noted that body mass index can be misleading. Since muscle weighs more than fat,

" it is possible to be overweight and still be physically fit, " she said.

>

> Lawson, a mass communications major, said while she believes her current BMI

would exempt her from the class, she's going to take it anyway " because I would

like to be healthier. "

>

> " This was a decision that I made, " she wrote in The Lincolnian, " and that's

the way it ought to be. "

>

> -

>

> Lincoln University: www.lincoln.edu

>

>

> Copyright © 2009 Canadian Press

>

[Guest guest]

strict wrote: " Now, while it may seem unfair, we do have to remember one thing

that is mentioned in this article: the students affected signed up for the

school with knowledge of that stipulation, and they've had several years to

shape up or not be able to ship out without an extra class. Why is this becoming

an issue only

now, and why wasn't it an issue to start with? And, as the article says:

they're just required to take the extra class, not to change the shape they're

in. Well, they are an institution with a professed goal of providing a

well-rounded education, and not well-rounded students There are schools with

codes of conduct requirements that also include dress/hygiene code more strict

than being on a public street requires, and it doesn't seem there's been major

problems regarding those requirements. "

Here are some of the reasons why it's not fair. First off, when a student

enrolls in college, he or she feels invincible and therefore the stipulation as

mentioned in the article appears reasonable and achievable.

The thing is, not every skinny person is at a healthy weight or living with a

healthy BMI. The course involves walking, aerobics, weight training and other

physical activities, as well as information on nutrition, stress and sleep.

Great. Make EVERYONE take that course then, not just those who are stereotyped

as being lazy and uneducated about weight issues.

Raven

[Guest guest]

I cannot agree with your first assertion: being overly optimistic in regards to

something that is entirely possible, if they focus, but not putting forth

required effort to achieve it, as there's 3-4 years for them to accomplish it,

if required: that's long enough for easily losing 150 pounds at a very safe rate

of 1 pound a week, and even 300 also still at a rather safe rate. Will they

likely feel hungry if they try to speed through it faster? Sure!

> Here are some of the reasons why it's not fair. First off, when a student

enrolls in college, he or she feels invincible and therefore the stipulation as

mentioned in the article appears reasonable and achievable.

>

Now, your second point is more reasonable: I see many people that are rail-thin

that I would never want to have trying to help me move my furniture when I move

(or help someone else) because they don't have the strength/stamina to do so,

and, frankly, most people aren't in nearly good enough aerobic condition to not

feel like they're dying if they even tried to complete any distance with me on

foot (I walk fast enough that a lot of people have to run/jog either constantly

or intermittently: I can keep pace with a slow distance runner while walking,

for many miles without a problem, up hills). In my current condition with my

current BMI around 30, even, I can do that: I admit, I've not put forth nearly

as much effort as I should to be in better aerobic/lean shape, because it'd be

that much easier if I wasn't carrying around all that long-term food storage,

because I'm effectively carrying around a 40 pound pack without carrying the 3

liters of water I'm likely to take on a distance run. I need to get back into

more regular running: I run the half-marathons casually, most of the time, with

no preparation save that of some regular fast walking around, and carbo-loading

beforehand with hydration, but then I know what my body's limitations are. The

fact that I can do that without too much stress, indicates to me that the

average fitness level can and should be far higher than it is in the general

population, because I don't have the ideal physiology even when at my proper

weight.

> The thing is, not every skinny person is at a healthy weight or living with a

healthy BMI. The course involves walking, aerobics, weight training and other

physical activities, as well as information on nutrition, stress and sleep.

Great. Make EVERYONE take that course then, not just those who are stereotyped

as being lazy and uneducated about weight issues.

>

> Raven

>

[Guest guest]

strict wrote: " ... <snip> ... I cannot agree with your first assertion: being overly optimistic in regards to something that is entirely possible, if they focus, but not putting forth required effort to achieve it, as there's 3-4 years for them to accomplish it, if required: that's long enough for easily losing 150 pounds at a very safe rate of 1 pound a week, and even 300 also still at a rather safe rate. Will they likely feel hungry if they try to speed through it faster? Sure! ... <snip> ... "

This goes to the matter of stress. When young adults head off to college and university, the world is their oyster and they do, indeed, feel invincible.

The stress of a new environment, the stress of a new school, the stress of classes that are not run the way high school classes are run, the stress of more responsibility, the stress of all sorts of new things gets to students who, for the most part, are not predisposed to think of the stress that will accompany the new adventure of going off the college or university.

The top 10 stressors for kids in their late teens going on to college or university are:

1. Academic Performance (Gifted students stress about obtaining perfect grades, average students stress out about competing with the gifted students, and below average students stress out about just passing.)

2. Being bullied or harassed

3. Taking classes beyond academic ability

4. Having personality conflicts with teachers

5. Having difficulty balancing time and making deadlines

6. Lacking strong enough study skills and study habits to achieve the Academic Performance in #1.

7. Comparing self to others

8. Participating in too many activities

It doesn't matter whether you agree with me, strict, as the facts are readily available. Transitioning from home to college or university is the most difficult and stressful transitions in a young adult's life (Source: http://www.camh.net/About_CAMH/Guide_to_CAMH/Child_Youth_Family_Program/tips_parent_college_university.html)

When stressed, the body is unable to properly regulate cortisol which is euphemistically referred to as the "stress hormone."

Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as: • Suppressed thyroid function (which leads to weight gain)• Blood sugar imbalances (which leads to weight gain)• Decreased bone density• Decrease in muscle tissue• Higher blood pressure• Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences• Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. (Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, the development of , higher levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems!)

In other words, one can eat nutritiously and keep the calories in check and still gain a considerable amount of weight when they are sufficiently stressed over long periods of time ... say 3 to 4 years.

Rather than single out those who have higher BMI's, I put forth that all students should have to take the additional course and that stress be addressed through greater resources on campus for students who are battling chronic stress regardless of the source.

Raven

[Guest guest]

Your assertion:

> In other words, one can eat nutritiously and keep the calories in check

> and still gain a considerable amount of weight when they are

> sufficiently stressed over long periods of time ... say 3 to 4 years.

doesn't make sense, because if you are physically active, you'll burn the

required number of calories to keep it balanced, regardless of stress:

addressing stress is a good thing, absolutely, and what's one of the absolutely

best ways to address stress? EXERCISE!

That is, you only gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn: no amount

of stress changes that, given the same amount of physical activity and the same

caloric intake. If you eat garbage (which a lot of college students are prone

to do once out on their own, if they've not had proper education and lifestyles

ingrained deeply within) you'll feel a lot more hunger and ingest far more

calories because your body will insist on it, because it's still seeking more

nutrients.

If you don't sleep enough (yet another common college student issue) yes you'll

have all the effects of that, which, amongst others, increases your desire to

eat, blood sugar regulation issues, etc. (wished I'd been aware of that as soon

as that: I became aware of the link between sleep and that many years ago).

But, you know what? College is a place where you not only learn the formal

class studies (hopefully!) but you learn how to focus on the appropriate things,

not be party animals and stay up all night all the time, living off of

high-sugar/caffeine/other stimulant things and become a self-controlled

reasonable mature adult citizen. Or, you push yourself into failure mode in a

multitude of ways, and blimp out, etc. or get into drug overdoses, and generally

pushing yourself too hard. Well, we all have different capacity to study and do

the work: if you can't sanely keep up with your student workload at the rate you

were doing it at, it's your own damned fault for not recognizing when to slow

down and not drive yourself into the ground.

[Guest guest]

strict wrote: " ... <snip> ... doesn't make sense, because if you are

physically active, you'll burn the required number of calories to keep it

balanced, regardless of stress: addressing stress is a good thing, absolutely,

and what's one of the absolutely best ways to address stress? EXERCISE! That

is, you only gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn: no amount of

stress changes that, given the same amount of physical activity and the same

caloric intake ... <snip> ... "

You are mistaken. Chronic stress can and does hamper the body's ability to burn

calories ergo one can eat less food, eat nutritious food, exclude junk food,

exercise every day and still find themselves gaining weight. The research has

proven this to be a fact.

Raven

[Guest guest]

"Now, while it may seem unfair, we do have to remember one thing that is mentioned in this article: the students affected signed up for the school with knowledge of that stipulation, and they've had several years to shape up or not be able to ship out without an extra class. Why is this becoming an issue only now, and why wasn't it an issue to start with? And, as the article says: they're just required to take the extra class, not to change the shape they're in. Well, they are an institution with a professed goal of providing a well-rounded education, and not well-rounded students There are schools with codes of conduct requirements that also include dress/hygiene code more strict than being on a public street requires, and it doesn't seem there's been major problems regarding those requirements."

Even though this may be a policy the kids are aware of, there are still two problems:

1) It's discriminatory. Are people that are too thin required to take classes on anorexia? Are people who are sexually active required to take classes on birth control and human sexuality? If not, why not?

2) Most overweight people know they are overweight and they know why. They do not need to be re-told. Further, some cannot lose the weight no matter how hard they try. Too much cortesol in the system can cause excessive weight gain, and there is no way to treat this problem.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

-- In FAMSecretSociety , strictnon_conformist wrote:

"I cannot agree with your first assertion: being overly optimistic in regards to something that is entirely possible, if they focus, but not putting forth required effort to achieve it, as there's 3-4 years for them to accomplish it, if required: that's long enough for easily losing 150 pounds at a very safe rate of 1 pound a week, and even 300 also still at a rather safe rate. Will they likely feel hungry if they try to speed through it faster? Sure!"

Again, you are not taking into consideration instances of hormonal imbalance. Some weight gain is not caused by over-eating.

Administrator

[Guest guest]

"doesn't make sense, because if you are physically active, you'll burn therequired number of calories to keep it balanced, regardless of stress:addressing stress is a good thing, absolutely, and what's one of the absolutelybest ways to address stress? EXERCISE!"

No true. In times of extreme stress, what happens is that the body puts itself into a fight mode where it is prepared to battle indefinately, making the maximum use of every calorie for the duration of the anticipated fight and the fight itself.

If the events are IMAGINED to be stressful, psychology can counter that. But if the event s are truly stressful, then exercise cannot solve the problem.

The theory that exercise burns exercise and reduces stress works for many people but there is a class of people for whom this theory fails. For these people, if you cut calories, the body simply tries to make the calories last even longer. If you exercise, instead of burning fat and calories, it converts fhat to muscle.

"That is, you only gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn: no amount of stress changes that, given the same amount of physical activity and the same caloric intake. If you eat garbage (which a lot of college students are prone to do once out on their own, if they've not had proper education and lifestyles ingrained deeply within) you'll feel a lot more hunger and ingest far more calories because your body will insist on it, because it's still seeking morenutrients."

Generally you are correct, but there are many exceptions to the rule, as I have stated above. In some real life situations, and even in some college ones, it is impossible to remove yourself from the stressful situation, ergo, you are stuck.

Administrator