Kids today are putting on far more weight (and fat) than their parents.

And guess who is to blame? Yes, the government. When your children are unhealthy and lack the motivation to go outside and do anything, it's the fault of the educational system.

There's nothing like pointing the finger at a faceless entity.

CNN:

The percentage of students who attend a daily physical education class has dropped from 42 percent in 1991 to 28 percent in 2003, the report says.

The number of kids considered overweight has more than tripled since 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Among those between ages 6 to 19, over 9 million kids -- 16 percent -- are considered overweight.

Of course, some people choose to blame other influences.

Jacalyn Lund, president of National Association for Sport and Physical Education, also contends that not every child has the time or money to play soccer or basketball or take ballet lessons after school.

"The upper echelon in our society will have more access to sports, and the lower income kids will get less and less physical activity. ... (This trend) keeps poverty-stricken kids where they are ... it's not getting better; it's getting worse in our nation," he said.

I didn't realized it cost very much money to go running. I remember when I was younger (and yes, I did play a great deal of organized sports) we would simply go to the backyard, take an old baseball bat and a tennis ball, and play a baseball game with a tennis ball on the property each of us lived on.

We also used to run around the forest and paintball, play capture the flag at night, etc. So yes, while a number of people do have access to after-school sports (and I should point out, most private, competitive organizations will make every effort possible ensure no qualified athlete is denied on economics. I was part of a soccer club in the Olympia-area and I know it is encouraged for other members of the club to donate to a pool fund designated for such a purpose), it is far from the only way to keep yourself moving.

And for those who are working, the best way to exercise is to simply incorporate it into your daily routine (as mentioned in the article. Simply ride your bike rather than drive when the distance is reasonable.)

EDIT: Unfortunately, I have regressed into the early stages of what the article describes. I blame nobody but myself and anticipate it will be corrected in short order.