At Lincoln University, physical health is on par with mental acumen. Students who started school after 2006 must be tested, and have a BMI under 30, the cutoff for medical obesity. If they don't make the grade, they've got to take a three-credit fitness class that will have them jogging lifting weights. Well, the first class who has to meet those guidelines are seniors now, and they're as angry as if the waiter forgot the bacon on their cheeseburger.

One student wrote in the school paper,

As someone who has taken many years to accept the fact that I will never be a size two, I feel as though the administration is now telling me that not being a size two may hinder me from graduating from Lincoln.

I didn't come to Lincoln to be told that my weight is not in an acceptable range. I came here to get an education which, as a three time honor student, is something I have been doing quite well, despite the fact that I have a slightly high Body Mass Index.

Sixteen percent of the senior class have yet to get tested, though most are expected to pass without having to take the class. The remainder will be backup RBs for the Titans.

Too Fat to Graduate [Lincolnian]
Students To Lincoln U: No Weigh! [AP]

From MSNBC:

At Action Kids Fitness Center, with two locations in California, children can take a 40- to 45-minute circuit training workout with resistance machines and cardio stations, including stationary bikes that connect to PlayStation 2. The center also has hip-hop dance, yoga, karate and monthly nutrition classes.

"We really pride ourselves on the energy and excitement we put into making fitness fun," said Steve Ewing, the center's co-founder. "We don't want them to be thinking they are overweight and obese. We want them to acknowledge that moving is fun."

My solution: We should start a Kid Olympics. Events could be four square, red rover, tetherball, lawn darts ... all of the activities you sucked at as a child, but of which today's children don't know. Imagine your pride as Bob Costas interviews your son after he wins the gold medal in hide 'n' seek. The fear of China beating us in Slip 'N' Slide — the game we invented — should be enough to get our kids' fat asses out of the house and onto a water-covered sheet of plastic on the lawn.

Children Hit Tot-Sized Treadmills At Kiddie Gyms [MSNBC]