“There’s a very big difference between supervised recreation and an educational programme designed to make young people physically fit,”

“When taught by trained teachers using proper facilities, PE classes give young people the skills they’ll need to engage in a lifelong programme of fitness.

“In the light of the increase in childhood obesity in developed countries throughout the world, establishing quality physical fitness programmes in public schools has taken on international implications,” he added.

Childhood obesity is on the rise in Malaysia too. In an article entitled Childhood Globesity, the International Food Information Council reports that nearly 17% of Malaysian boys and 8% of Malaysian girls are obese.

These numbers parallel the disturbing rise of obesity in the United States, where the Centre for Disease Control reports that 25% of America’s youth are at risk of becoming obese, a rate that’s doubled in the last 10 years.

“The United States and Malaysia have different approaches to education,” said Dr Wee. “Malaysia adopts a more teacher-centred approach while American teachers and students both play active roles in the construction of knowledge.”