“How to Lose Five Pounds of Fat in Four Weeks.” This is one of the writing prompts for the final assignment of APEX, Hershey High School’s online physical education course. How to Gain Five Pounds of Muscle in Ten Weeks” is the other prompt, both requiring an essay for a Fitness Plan.
This week, February 24th to March 2nd is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and the problematic nature of these prompts must be brought to light.
Eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder are extremely prevalent among high school students, especially girls. Polaris Treatment Center is a program committed to providing resources for adolescents with eating disorders. According to their website, 90% of teens with Anorexia Nervosa are female. There are many factors involved in the development of Eating Disorders in teens, including perfectionism, body image dissatisfaction, and weight stigma, according to the National Eating Disorders Organization.
With rising rates of Eating Disorders in teens reported by UMass Chan Medical School, assignments that require students to research methods of weight loss are problematic. In addition, a Final Exam project for Hershey High School’s APEX course requires students to track their eating, including their intake of carbohydrates, calories from protein, and calories from fats. Tracking calories and restricting specific food groups is a serious symptom of an eating disorder and should not be encouraged by a school assignment.
While encouraging healthy eating habits and regular exercise is not problematic and is an integral part of development, the curriculum for APEX is incredibly problematic. There is nothing wrong with encouraging students to exercise regularly, but encouraging students to research methods that aid in losing weight is where the problem lies. This final assignment could be the beginning of an eating disorder for students.
If you think there should be a change in curriculum, email the Superintendent, Dr. Winslow at swinslow@hershey.k12.pa.us or Hershey High School Principal, Ms. Schmidt at lschmidt@hershey.k12.pa.us.
