Toward A Fitter Future: Why Education Must Get Physical

摘要

Positive trends toward a healthier futurernsociety include innovative fitnessrnequipment and activities that are appealing tornadults. But the fitness ethos must begin earlier inrnlife, and education should reintroduce physicalrnactivity for children, argues a futurist consultant.rnThe promotion of healthy life-styles is bene-fiting fromrncalorie-burn-rning innova-tions that arernalmost as nu-rnmerous as calorie-gaining temptations. One only has to view late-night cable TV for a little while to see an advertisement for some type of exercise equipment promising extraordinary health benefits, such as the Bowflex Home Gym. Games and activities, too, seem more imaginative than ever in promoting exercise. Activities like underwater hockey, bicycle polo, and cardio-tennis combine two or more sports or fitness activities. Active games originally intended for children, like dodgeball and kickball, have become popular with adults.rnMany companies, like Country Walkers, Backcountry Access, and Vermont Country Cyclers, offer "exercise tourism" featuring walking, skiing, cycling, or kayaking. Even electronic games are starting to promote exercise, like Dance-Dance Revolution and the suite of games accompanying the Nintendo Wii games system, getting gamers off the couch and moving.