Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families has released a report today on a need for sharpened priorities on the health of children. Yes, obesity is a problem. But we have perhaps focused too much on weights and measuements in Arkansas and not enough on fitness.

Quality physical education, for example, would go a long way toward improving the health of children even if their weight remains more than optimal. The research shows that fit people who are overweight have better life expectancies than normal and underweight people who are inactive or not fit as meausred by performances on stress tests. That was me at the people’s gym this morning, trying to practice what I preach. 

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