US students must attend fitness camps to receive degrees

Officials at the Lincoln University in Pennsylvania have started their own initiative, in a bid to tackle the growing obesity problem on campus. Effectively, anybody deemed to be overweight, is obliged to attend a fitness course if they are to receive their graduation certificates.

The obesity levels at the college are way above the national average. In addition to this, the number of students that have been diagnosed with diabetes is higher than the average. The condition is particularly common in African American pupils.

Leading the initiative is Mr. James DeBoy of the Lincoln Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He claims that he had felt obliged to tackle the problem head on, despite the knowledge that he was to face criticism as a result of the fitness programme which is now deemed to be compulsory by campus officials.

A large proportion of obese students have spoken out, claiming that the deprivation of their University credentials was a breach of their rights. However, Lincoln has been quick to highlight that obese students will not be denied their education; they will merely have to show some degree of effort, and attend the classes that have been designed to help improve their weight.

The fitness club is designed to educate students on nutrition, the importance of exercise, as well as the dangers of being obese. Students are also told of the connection between stress levels, lack of sleep and obesity as a condition. With obesity levels soaring in the UK, the programme is something that could well work here. The number of adults who are clinically obese has doubled since the mid 1980s. To date, 46% of men are seriously overweight as are 32% of women. Increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed as obese before they reach school age.

More needs to be done in terms of the education and whilst schools are obliged to take responsibility, older generations are also in need of better information and if college is one way to begin, then it is not necessarily a bad thing.

You must always consult your doctor if you are concerned about your health. If they deem you to be suitable, you may eligible for prescription treatments such as Xenical, an effective fat blocker, and Reductil, which has been clinically proven to reduce your appetite and lower calorie intakes.