The Booster Redux Pittsburg High School 1978 E. 4th Street Pittsburg, KS 66762 Vol. 98, Issue 2 www.boosterredux.com
Friday, Sept. 26, 2014
Driving concerns EVALUATION OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ACCIDENTS
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guten tag CHECK IN WITH Cooper Wade, PHS Senior STUDYING ABROAD
childhood obesity on the rise
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Exercise, healthy diet key to overcoming obesity in adolescents BY MORGAN PLANK
@momoplank aving chubby cheeks as a baby or toddler can be endearing but as a toddler grows and reaches adolescence, a little chubbiness grows into something more serious. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. In the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents. Due to the large spike in obesity, the problem is now becoming a nationwide concern that needs to be addressed. “Health craze fitness has hit and it has been hitting America for 30 or 40 years, yet it only hits a certain sector. The other population is kind of blind to it,” health teacher Merle Clark said. Because children and young adolescents do not provide for themselves, they cannot control the food choices made for them. “As time has progressed, a lot of [obesity] is due to the fast food industry and parents feeding their kids on the fly,” Clark said. In the long run, these unhealthy eating habits that parents are establishing for their children early on can greatly impact them later on in their lives. “People need to realize what they’re
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feeding their children. They have their long-term life at stake, not just near term, because it is going to carry on into their adult years,” Clark said. Not only can these bad habits stay with them throughout their lives, but they can also increase their risk of developing life-threatening health problems. “People that are obese have health issues that have shortened their lifetime,” Clark said. S o m e of these health i s s u e s include diabetes, heart attack, stroke and cancer. In one study, 70% of obese children had at least one CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk factor, and 39% had two or more, according to the CDC. Creating healthy habits is becoming more and more important to kids’ health. However, for some families, healthier alternatives are not an option. “There is a big link with obesity and poverty,” nurse Lisa Schwob said. “A
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lot of families simply can’t afford to buy the healthier choices, the fruits, the vegetables, just because of the costs of things and unfortunately the cheap things like mac and cheese usually have a lot of fat in them also.” What kids do have control over is their ability to learn about obesity through their school. “The best answer to obesity in our country is through education, not just in high school, but starting early about healthy eating habits, and I know all of our -LISA SCHWOB schools do that for kids,” Clark said. “My goal is to teach students about their body and mind so they live a long, happy, healthy life.” A factor that plays a key role in dealing with obesity is exercise. Staying active is vital to maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. “Diet alone is not enough to combat obesity and have a very healthy working body. Daily exercise must be incorporated,” Clark said. “The other thing is after the freshmen year, there
THERE IS A BIG LINK THE WITH OBESITY AND WIT POVERTY. A LOT OF FAMILIES SIMPLY CAN’T AFFORD D TO BUY HEALTHIER HIER CHOICES.
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is no P.E. requirement here at the high school. For some students, that’s the only exercise they get.” Although many do not choose to participate after their freshman year, those who do are able to work some physical activity into their daily routine which may be their only available time to be active. This proves to be beneficial for those kids who are willing to make an effort to increase their physical fitness. It has been proven that even little amounts of exercise are better than no exercise at all. The time put in is not nearly as important as the exercise itself. “Even just going for a walk. They just see such health benefits from the Play 60 Program [an in-school program encouraging kids to combine physical activity with healthy eating habits],” Schwob said. “Getting out and doing something active for an hour a day.” A public figure that has made it a priority of hers with her Let’s Move program to get kids to start exercising and eating a balanced diet is First Lady Michelle Obama. “I think her main Let’s Move program is not only trying to get more school activity going, but I think she’s been the spearhead to a lot of our dietary changes at school,” Schwob said. “It has been one of her initiatives to get rid of the salt and fat in school lunches. I think it is helping.”
bowling for fun students take part in a bowling league Page 5D
Ice Bucket Challenge spreads Pouring for pain: ALS through all ages nationwide
Staff, students look to social media to support life-threatening disease BY MADDIE BADEN
a disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal Cold ice water rolls down cord. This eventually causes the principal Jon Bishop’s back while ability to initiate and control the students and staff watch in muscle movement to deteriorate. excitement. Approximately 5,600 people are diagnosed with ALS in the United States each year. In order to raise awareness of ALS, people nationwide posted videos on social media of dumping ice water on themselves. The ice water being poured represents the feeling of losing control of muscle movement. “When the cold water hits your skin it makes you jerk or tense up,” Bishop said. “I had to feel what [those diagnosed with ALS] feel all the time, but only for a few seconds.” When challenged by peers to participate in the ice bucket challenge, nominees are given a certain time frame to complete the challenge and to also donate to finding new treatments and a cure to ALS. When Bishop was challenged by Wehmeyer to complete the ice bucket challenge, Bishop encouraged staff and students to donate to the cause as well. Altogether, the school raised Shrieking from the frigid water, Principal Jon Bishop completes his nomination for the around $600. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Bishop had football players pour the ice bucket on him during “I thought [doing the challenge] the first PHS pep rally. PHS raised over $600 for ALS and MS research. PHOTO BY ABBY was a good idea and a fun way HARRIS @MaddieBaden
On Aug. 29, Bishop along with band director Cooper Neil and junior Troy Wehmeyer accepted the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) ice bucket challenge. According to alsa.org, ALS is
to spread the word. They are getting money raised to help find a cure so they don’t have to keep going through what they’re going through and be happier,” Wehmeyer said. “It is a good way to let everyone know what ALS is and how people live with it everyday.” Some activities and sports teams decided to accept the challenge as well. Alone, the cheerleading team raised $50. “The dance team nominated us so we thought ‘Why not do something crazy for a good cause?’” senior varsity co-captain Brittney Dutton said. Many trends on social media come and go and the ALS ice bucket challenge is one of them; but Bishop believes it made a definite impact. “It doesn’t matter who you are,” Bishop said. “If you [donate], you feel better about who you are and knowing that you made a difference.” According to time.com, over 2.4 million videos were posted on social media. “It’s amazing how much one person can change the world,” Bishop said. “This brought a disease into the spotlight that not many people knew about until now.”
Governor Brownback
visits kansas governor visits students involved in jag program Page 6D