Childhood-Obesity-Prevention versi 2

So, What Happens to Chunky Kindergartners?
By Rick Osbourne

Once a parent or an educator seriously begins consider using leg assisted pull ups as an extremely safe, low cost, and functional antidote to childhood obesity, there are a few questions that inevitably come up. One of them is "What happens to the chunky kindergartners, those kids who show up overweight on the first day of school? Won't they feel totally excluded when introduced to a pull ups routine?"

The basic answer is NO, because this strategy is extremely inclusive and it's customized to fit each individual child. That's why we use a height adjustable pull up bar which allows teachers or parents to raise and lower it (the bar) in one inch increments, which gives every participant a starting point where they can successfully perform at least 8 repetitions of leg assisted pull ups, jumping and pulling at the same time. If they're unable to do eight repetitions easily, the bar is lowered until they can.

From Start to Finish

Once we've found and recorded a successful starting point, students are "allowed" to progress in increments of one repetition each week (two workouts per week) until they reach 12 reps. So in week # 2 they do nine reps, in week # 3 they do ten, in week # 4 they do eleven, and in week # 5 they do twelve repetitions. Then in week # 6 the bar is raised one inch and the entire 8 to 12 routine is repeated all over again until the participant eventually runs out of leg assistance and can do conventional pull ups.

Most Will Get There in One Year

Using this method, a very high percentage (90%) of kindergartners are able to learn to do conventional pull ups. And when that's accomplished they're naturally immunized against obesity for life because people who can do pull ups are never obese. But now, "What happens to the chunky 10 % of kindergartners at the end of the school year?" Are they disappointed, frustrated, alienated from the rest of the kids?

But There Are a Few...

The answer is, NO they are not. Like the other kids they've made regular progress throughout the school year and if they continue to do so they'll reach their goal sometime in the next grade level. Regular progress is the key to keeping wind in their motivational sails and to avoiding frustration and disappointment for all kids.

In other words if they're stronger week after week, month after month, they know that one day soon they'll get the job done. In the process they also learn that getting the job done takes some kids longer than others. But the important thing is getting the job done, not how long it takes you to get there. And this (relentless persistence) lesson is an important life-long lesson that applies to all kinds of things, not just pull ups.

Impossible? No, But...

But it would be wrong to say that every child is destined to be able to physically pull their own weight. Although I've not personally seen one, I presume the possibility exists. And in that regard I'll make the following observations.

Performing more and more leg assisted pull ups (which even chunky kids can do) serves the same motivational purpose, and actually allows them to do more physical work, and burn more calories, than doing fewer repetitions of conventional pull ups. And in the long run leg assisted pull ups still naturally immunize their participants against obesity for life, so this functional strategy turns out to be a winner for all parties, and that includes the chunky kindergartner.