Former President Bill Clinton's "Alliance for a Healthier Generation" was featured in an "NBC Nightly News" report this week. I am simply amazed that we are still falling for crap like this. Click here, or on the image below, if you missed the story by Dr. Nancy Snydeman, NBC's chief medical editor.
This storyline is bogus for several reasons: First, Clinton claims on camera that "they didn't know this stuff when I was in school." He was referring to the value of quality health and physical education, proper nutrition, etc., and the science that supports quality, daily physical and health education. (By the way, Clinton's was among the least effective President's Council on Physical Fitness, Sports (and now, Nutrition) in history.
Clinton starts with the statement that had he learned how to eat and exercise properly, he wouldn't be a "victim" of unhealthy life style and experience the medical conditions he had as an adult. And therefore, as a concerned ex-President, he will make declarations, give interviews, urge compliance and tell his serfs he is depending on them. Then, as his private jet makes a dramatic departure into the distant sun, everyone goes to McDonald's, then home to watch TV and talk about the day. The next morning, it's business as usual. I know this because I traveled around the country for a decade and experienced many of these charades first hand.
But the facts Clinton refers to are not news at all, although they may be news to him and his teachers. But in the Fifties and Sixties, when he was in public schools, the scientific literature were well established. The essential nature of youth fitness and sound nutrition as vital to long-term health were well understood. But understanding the essential contribution and getting school officials and teachers to do it are two different things.
Clinton was in school public school during the late Fifties through about 1962. I received my undergraduate and Master's Degree during that time and there's very little we didn't know or that is new today.
The big push for both adult and youth fitness was in the late Fifties and the Sixties. It was launched by Hans Kraus and Bonnie Prudden with the report "that shocked the President" (meaning Eisenhower), which resulted in the first President's Council on Youth Fitness. Under Kennedy, and again with the influence of Bonnie and Hans, it was renamed to include adults. Makes sense: If kids are not taught properly, they grow up to be unfit adults. Duh. It's not rocket science.
My objection to the Clinton program is that I believe it is all wasted effort and money — "hell's debts are paid with good intentions." What's worse is that it sets up the rank and file for one more disappointment because when Clinton jumps onto his next issue, those he has jacked up on this one will be left at the well. There is no sense to it. There is no real structure or discipline. It's another campaign and, however well intended it may be, it will not move the dial.
After a few failures, they'll become cynical about being misled and get in line behind the other zombies who are sick and tired of "experts" and politicians getting them all pumped up for "hope and change"
How do I know? Well, in truth I don't. This might be the magic combination of personalities, money, discipline and a lifelong commitment that will build from the grassroots, inflame and inspire the hearts and minds of health-minded parents and teachers at the grassroots and stir long-term change and part the seas. But if it does, it will be the first time in the history of dozens of efforts of this nature that these results are achieved.
So what? What differences does it make if Clinton, with good intentions, tries to focus his influence and presence on a major health problem?
This is why: Because constant and repetitive failure diminishes the human spirit. Because people with the fire in the bellies who believe their profession is important get all jacked up and when the bottom falls out as it surely well, they will internalize the failure as their fault, or that no one really cares, or that there's not enough money, or whatever. After a few failures, they'll become cynical about being misled and get in line behind the other zombies who are sick and tired of "experts" and politicians getting them all pumped up for "hope and change" but can't deliver the "nuts and bolts."
So are there any options? Do we just throw up our hands and allow the fattest, least-active childhood and adolescent population in the human race go down the tubes? Do we turn to an already over-burdened sickness-care system that knows little about prevention?
Or do we turn to the Centers for Disease Control that has been working on this for 25-plus years only to see it their best efforts fail miserably? With respect to chronic disease, we have met none of our goals — most notably, those goals pertaining to youth fitness. As I write, I have all the CDC's grand designs and intentions surrounding my desk. These people don't know how to do what they want done; they just tell us what number we should meet and how far we missed the target.
That's why the concept of Be Active America is important. It is very different. It focuses not on kids, but on parents, voters and local school districts.
Be Active America is a disciplined plan to recruit, train and coordinate the building of a local army of can-do adults who take charge of school health and physical education.
It is a disciplined plan to recruit, train and coordinate the building of a local army of can-do adults who take charge of school health and physical education. They don't need someone to come prancing in, have a photo op, give a TV interview and leave the next hour.
Be Active America focuses on private-sector support because these companies are the ones paying the cost for workers who are unfit, suffer premature degenerative disease, eat up sick leave, and increase the cost of medical insurance. It is based on a disciplined political action campaign using tough- minded, well-trained health advocates who will challenge school board members and school officials to get the job down (or we will find people who will).
Be Active America has worked in at least one state. Let's do it again. And again. And again.
For more information on how you can build a Be Active Program in your community, email me through the "Contact Richard" box in the right column.