Parents and teachers have a new resource for getting overweight kids back on track with San Diego State University Exercise and Nutritional Sciences professor David Kahan's new book, "Supersized P.E."

"Being physically active every day is especially crucial for children struggling with weight issues," said Kahan, a physical education teacher and researcher. "Overweight and obese youth carry social, psychological and emotional burdens that often lead to anger, despair and ultimately, a sedentary lifestyle. Our goal is to help youth love physical activity."

"Supersized P.E." is designed to help parents, physical educators and leaders of physical activity programs better understand the physical, emotional and psychological issues that affect overweight children. The book's goal is to improve quality of life for overweight children and help them learn how to be physically active for a lifetime. 

10 things

The book's recommendations include:

1. Set an Example: Be a good role model of overall wellness.
2. Emphasize a Child's Strengths: If it's something a child enjoys or is good at, he or she is much more likely to do it.
3. Foster a Positive Atmosphere: that feels safe and inviting, is free of sarcasm, insults and harassment and be a consistent source of comfort and encouragement.
4. Focus on Behaviors, Not Outcomes: Help them control behaviors and focus on how to change, not the results of changing.
5. Face the Facts: Denial is dangerous. Parents and teachers need to acknowledge when a student seems to be gaining weight or is overweight.
6. Develop a Social Support Network: Find a social niche where an overweight child is with others who share the same positive attitudes toward physical activity and health or at least support the child’s needs and intentions.
7. Avoid the Spotlight: Overweight children should not be placed in situations in which their physical performance is on display for all to see and critique.
8. Get a Doctor's Advice: Physical education programs that report a child’s body mass index (BMI) may inadvertently trigger parental overreaction and undue stress on an overweight child. Parents should consider having their overweight child assessed by his or her pediatrician before undertaking an intervention.
9. Nutrition is Key: Educate young people how to make smart food choices.  Teach overweight children about serving sizes, how to select low-fat snacks and how to recognize when they are full.
10. Reduce Screen Time: The numbers tell the story. On average, a 100-pound child spends 3.47 hours engaged in screen-based media (TV, computer, video games), burning only 166 calories. This contrasts with other activities and their calorie-burning ability, including swimming (666), walking the dog briskly (687), playing half-court basketball (937), hiking (957), etc.

About Kahan

Kahan runs SDSU’s Hardy Elementary School P.E. program. Through the programming, SDSU students studying to become physical education teachers help young students meet their physical fitness goals.

Kahan said it is important that teachers, coaches, school nutrition directors, nurses, administrators, parents and community leaders all work in a coordinated effort to make health and wellness a lifelong priority for children.

About the book

"Supersized P.E.: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Teaching Overweight Students," co-authored by Josh Trout, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Chico, is available through the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.