It began in 1956 as the President’s Council on Youth Fitness. In 1963, the name was changed to the to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness by President Kennedy to reflect the needs of all Americans to be physically fit. Physical fitness was emphasized in schools as, beginning in 1966, many of us were required to test for the Presidential Physical Fitness Award (later changed to the President’s Challenge Youth Fitness Award). The council quickly morphed (1968) into the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to emphasize youth participation in sports. In 2010, President Obama renamed the agency the President’s Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition (which I would have to say is an apt name and purpose—presumably emphasizing the broader sense of fitness [Spiritual, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social, as well as Physical]). The goal also became a mission to “end the epidemic of childhood obesity in a generation.” Honestly, from this point in time, I recall very sparse activity on the part of the Council.
From the Council’s own website, it is described as consisting of “athletes, physicians, fitness professionals, and entrepreneurs who are appointed by the President and serve in an advisory capacity through the Secretary of Health and Human Services.” A glance at the list of appointees would indicate that there is little strength behind the Council as the members are noted for their accomplishments in sports rather than any background in nutrition, physical education, or exercise science.
For a class, not long ago, I wanted to state the most current guidelines for physical activity. It was a nightmare trying to find them. In writing this, I started with the health.gov website to see how many steps it would take to get there—three to get to a .pdf of the complete second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines. To read through the guidelines and find clear summary of the guidelines is challenging to say the least. A link to the Executive Summary is the same number of steps and provides more clear and concise guidance, but still such guidance is limited. It also emphasizes minimal guidelines (for example, Figure A-1. Move Your Way Adult Dosage, simply recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week and at least two days of muscle-strengthening activities a week for adults) which are quite likely underestimated by the average American. According to the CDC1, only 23% of American adults over the age of 18 meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for both aerobic and muscle strengthening activity. Thus, one can imagine how few actually sufficiently exceed the Guidelines to improve their health.
Quite clearly, the federal strategy for improving the fitness of Americans young and old is not working. Why? Because the really isn’t a strategy. If anything should come out of the current coronavirus pandemic, it should be that we are in a physical inactivity crisis in this country—the cost of which is in the tens, if not hundreds, of billions of dollars. We have lived with and (to varying degrees) accepted and complied with masking mandates and restricted behaviors for 18 months. We have come to demand access to health care, but we shy away from demanding access to universal health. Inequities in health care are reluctantly discussed as the impacts of COVID-19 are studied, but there is little talk about inequities in access to health—adequate healthy food, safe access to physical activity, health education, physical education in schools, etc. Discussions of health disparities always goes to access of care. Rarely do we hear discussion of prevention. Why?
It is time for action. We could begin with putting some credibility behind the President’s Council on Fitness, Sport and Nutrition. Let’s take a hard look at how government assistance programs operate to (not) bring healthy foods for Americans in need. Let’s take action at the local level and not depend upon a bloated distant federal government to tend to our local needs. Let’s address the issues in our communities that are contributing to the growth metabolic disease in our nation.
How would we react if the governors of our states were to mandate a closing of fast-food restaurants and restrict the sale of junk foods? Would we be supportive and say we have to all do our part to “flatten the curve” (i.e., the rising tails of the BMI or body composition distributions)?
How would we react to politicians imposing “standardized test” requirements in our schools and school districts higher more physical education teachers and allocating more time to teach to these testing standards? For once, teaching to the test might just make sense.
We have to support action to make Americans healthy. We have to be proactive. We have to focus on preventative health care. Doctors need to be trained to promote health—i.e. require more training in nutrition and exercise physiology—and to rely less on pharmaceuticals. We have to stop just giving lip-services to health.
We have to educate our communities regarding healthy behavior. This begins in K-12. It can begin with stronger standards for health and physical education. It will require addressing obesity and hypokinetic disease with strength and compassion.
So, here’s a thought…let’s start addressing the root of the problems with the health Americans and see how the burden on the health care health care systems improves.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
1https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/exercise.htm