Bike desks help Mexican students learn while burning calories

Rows of sleek new school desks equipped with bike pedals are allowing students in Mexico to power through their class work while cranking out some light exercise, burning off calories in a country known for its alarming obesity rates.

For students at a high school just outside Monterrey, the new bike desks offer benefits beyond exercise.

"When we're physically active, it also helps keep us focused," said a 13-year-old student. The school currently features two classrooms fully decked out with the new desks, but the plan is to gradually add them to all 21 classrooms.

Sanjuanita Garcia, the school's principal, points to the bike desks' post-pandemic benefits, especially for boys more vulnerable to excessive weight gain.

Mexico has a high obesity rate, with more than a third of its population dangerously overweight and more than 75% at a greater weight than is considered healthy.

And as children age, many pack on the pounds. A recent national study showed about 8% of children under 5 were overweight or obese, which rises to almost 19% for kids 5-11 years old.

Large amounts of excess body weight during early years poses numerous dangers to children’s health, including increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, bone and joint problems, and asthma.

Most children do not outgrow weight problems acquired in early life, and obesity in adulthood is known to contribute to strokes, heart disease, and dementia.

墨西哥学校用“自行车课桌”防肥胖

在墨西哥，一排排装有自行车踏板的时髦新式课桌让学生们在完成课堂作业的同时，还能进行些轻微的运动以燃烧卡路里。

对于蒙特雷市附近一所高中的学生来说，它给学生带来的好处不仅仅是能锻炼身体。

一名13岁的学生表示：“当我们身体动起来时，我们也更能集中注意力。”目前，该校已经有两间教室装配了这种新式课桌，学校计划将这种课桌推广到全部21间教室。

该校校长桑贾尼塔?加西亚表示，新冠疫情后，这种“自行车课桌”尤其有利于那些容易发胖的男生控制体重。

墨西哥的肥胖率很高，超过三分之一的人口超重，超过75%的人体重超过健康标准，儿童的体重也在不断上升。

最近的一项全国性研究显示，墨西哥约8%的5岁以下儿童超重，5至11岁儿童的肥胖率更是几乎达到19%。

童年时期超重，会对儿童健康造成诸多危害，包括增加患糖尿病、高血压、骨骼和关节问题以及哮喘的风险。

大多数儿童在成长过程中都无法摆脱在早年产生的体重问题，而成年后肥胖会导致中风、心脏病和失智症等疾病