According to World Health Organization, obesity and overweight are the fifth leading risk for global deaths.  The number of Obese and overweight population has increased by more than double since 1980s.   In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese. (Source: World Health Organization)

Many scholars and scientists have worked earnestly to address the problem with many eagerly introducing weight loss medication such as Orlistat (Xenical) and weight loss surgery including Gastric bypass surgery and liposuction among many others.

As an Educator, I see the introduction of medicine as a cure on an individual case by case basis but unable to eliminate the root cause of obesity - Education can.  However, science including food technology has moved light years ahead of education, especially Physical Education.  A visit to any universities’ websites that offer of Degree in Physical Education and you will find that the content is quite similar to those 20-30 years ago.  If the PE teachers are trained to educate students with content 20-30 years behind time, our kids would have an even dated knowledge.   Many PE lessons are still physical activities driven with low or no transfer of diet, healthy, sports science knowledge.

It is critical and eminent that Physical Educators look into how technology has affected human being and how Physical Education can best keep up with technology.  

In one of my presentations to a group of school kids, a kid stood up and told me, "Sir, but being FAT is CUTE!" He was quite a chubby kid from Indonesia, definitely from a well to do family.  His statement made everyone in the hall laughed.  Do you know what was my reply?