BY CARMEN McCOLLUM, Times of Northwest Indiana
cmccollum@nwitimes.com
HOBART | It's not your typical gym class.
Eighth-graders Kirsten Garriott and Taran Delaney hadn't broken a sweat yet, but both diligently walked the treadmill. Jimmy Konja's legs were busy pumping the pedals of an exercise bike. Over in the strength room, Kendall Gunn was lifting weights.
Exercise is the name of the game at Hobart Middle School.
These students are among hundreds of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders able to take advantage of a $360,000 federal grant awarded to the middle school to provide nutritional, physical and health information to students.
The one-time grant was awarded through the nationally recognized Sports Play and Active Recreation for Kids program. The goal is to combat childhood obesity by creating opportunities for young people to exercise and be healthy at school.
Phyllis Nimetz, physical education and health teacher, said the grant money was used to buy equipment to stock in the exercise room and a strength room, located in a section of the basement once used for storage.
Physical education teachers conduct pre- and post-tests measuring heart rate, weight and body fat, and students keep a personal record.
Records show students have lost weight and inches in the program. The program has been so successful that Hobart Middle School will host the annual Sports Play and Active Recreation for Kids conference Feb. 27, attracting educators from across the country.
Physical education teacher Betty Funkhouser said students are coming to school heavier than in the past.
"It's harder for them to sustain physical activity," she said.
While there are more youth sports available, some students are unfit and more susceptible to fatigue, injuries and other health-related illnesses because of how they care for their bodies.
"There is a lack of proper nutrition, less exercise and less sleep, and the body does not do as well," she said.
Gunn, 15, said students are bigger nowadays because they eat a lot of fast food.
"When we have money, we either spend it on junk food or clothes. Junk food is the quickest thing to get when you're hungry," he said.