The growing number of overweight people is putting a strain on the health care system in an effort to deal with the health issues involved. Some people think that the best way to deal with this problem is to introduce more physical education lessons in the school curriculum. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Owing to the problems that a growing

population

of overweight people cause for the health care system, it is thought that the key to solving

this

issue is to have more sport and

exercise

in

schools

. I agree that

this

is one way to tackle the problem, but diet must be taken into consideration as well. Increasing sport or regular

exercise

in

schools

is a useful way to tackle weight problems in the long run for the general

population

.

This

method will encourage a new generation to develop vital habits that support

overall

health and help them maintain a reasonable weight. At the moment, the average child in the West participates in sports possibly twice a week, which is not enough to counteract their

otherwise

sedentary lifestyle that comes from many hours each day of sitting at a desk for their lessons. By incorporating more

exercise

time and possibly extracurricular physical activities, they will undoubtedly become fitter and more active, and continue living that way after leaving school.

However

, targeting physical

exercise

in schoolchildren to reduce the current issue of obesity in the wider

population

is not effective enough on its own.

First,

children in

schools

need to be educated about what constitutes healthy

foods

and the reasons behind

this

in order to ensure a new generation of people who understand clean eating.

Second,

for a more immediately impactful change, it is important to look at reducing the number of ultra-processed

foods

(UPFs) on the market, which too many people gravitate toward.

For instance

, the government could impose a tax on UPFs to increase the price, and

likewise

reduce the cost of healthy

foods

,

such

as vegetables, to encourage a better diet.

To sum up

, I believe the best approach to tackling weight issues in the

population

starts with increasing

exercise

in

schools

while

encouraging a healthier diet through price changes targeting specific

foods

on the market.