School Takes Stand Against Child Obesity

 

In todays school system, it is challenging to find an institute that is willing to tackle the modern complications of todays society.   However, in the calm tranquil heart of the Okanagan Valley, lies a Penticton school that has built its foundations upon eradicating these pressing problems. It’s name is Princess Margaret Secondary,  and it is one of the first schools in BC that has taken the annotative to tackle one of today’s most pressing problems, child obesity.

When first entering the premises of this school the most noticeable thing is the student to parking ratio. With an estimated 120 legal drivers attending this institute there is only 50 stalls. To most this would seem as a problem, but to PMSers this is a challenge! By creating a petit parking area, students are subconsciously encouraged to walk to school! This is Genius. It’s a fresh thought that is bringing a new meaning to “Obese Prevention” and what professionals regard as being “absolutely brilliant”. 


Absence of parking stalls is not the only way Princess Margaret has taken a stand against obesity however. There is another contributor built straight into the infrastructure.Princess Margaret is a school with a main common area just inside the front doors, with to main hallways branching in the northern and eastern directions. At the end of these hallways sits the schools only two stair cases. Again, another weight loss encouragement. If a students class resides in one of the upstairs hallways, the student has to travel to the end of one of the two main hallways, in order to reach the ascending passage. This is much more walking, for the average student, however it seems to most that this arrangement is thought to be much more positive then negative. “ Always used to watch my weight back when i was in middle school,” says Jimmy, a first year grade 9 student, “but now that Im attending Princess Margaret, I know that I’m walking the proper distance, to burn the right amount of calories.”  

Though Princess Margaret has accomplished many feats on its own, there is one aspect of child obesity prevention that wasn’t introduced by themselves. When the  all “unhealthy” foods were taken out of the school vending machines in 2007 there was a massive uproar of disapproval from the students. This is no longer a problem however, because now that the initial anger has worn off, the students have come to realize just how fattening the items available in the vending machines actually were. This has lead to a general understanding that “if you don't like the food don’t eat it,”  and with that kind of attitude students can’t help but stay slim.

Child obesity is a very serious and a pressing problem in todays society. Be as it is, Princess Margaret has found ways in order to prevent their students from becoming fat and has helped them to become slimmer then ever.