Why Are So Many Teachers Overweight

Obesity, often refereed to as the American Epidemic, is often associated with those living a lazy secondary life. Teachers on the other hand, are often though of as highly energetic dedicated people. Why is it then that we see so many over weight teachers?

Teaching is an extremely demanding profession. In addition to the school day teachers are expected to work extended hours in order to deal with parents, staff, grading, and endless planning. In short, this is a profession that requires tremendous mental energy. Unfortunately, the job does not involve much of a physical effort.

As a teacher I’ve seen this many times. Fad diets were always a hot topic in the teacher’s lounge. I’ve always been against them, but after seeing how hard teachers work, it’s easy to sympathize with the desire to find a quick fix. At the time I was young and single, and barely managed to sleep walk to the gym after school. Most of my coworkers had families to take care of, in addition to managing an entire classroom. And so with all the hard work and dedication came the extra pounds.

As a strong advocate of health I decided to develop strategies for my coworkers to get back into shape. It began on a Monday morning. Every Monday the entire teaching staff was required to come in early for a meeting, and every week one teacher was responsible for preparing breakfast. I decided to break the norm of the highly saturated potato, cheese omelets, and make a fruit smoothies. The smoothies were a hit, and while everyone sipped away I made an announcement.


“We cannot continue to sacrifice out health. Not only is it detrimental to our own state of well being it also sets a bad example for the children. Good health is not something that can be accomplished at the end of the day. It starts from the moment we wake up and continues with every breath. Let’s start simple. Instead of trying to fit 30 minuets of cardio into the evening when we’re exhausted, lets get 40 minuets throughout the course of the day”.

Everyone was a bit skeptical it being Monday morning and all, but they agreed. That morning we committed to doing short bursts of exercise throughout the day. Some of the teachers did jumping jacks with their students, while other did laps around the playground at recess. It was easy to add up to 40, and most of the teachers exceeded that number. Within weeks everyone was feeling better, and looking great.

For all the other teachers out there who might be reading this remember. The road to healthy living is long, and deeply personal. If you desire to loose weight you have to start with your daily reality. Your coworkers, your student, your family, will always be there so reach out to them. You’ll be surprised at how much support you can find within a school day.