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Show and fM Home fe J Dr. Daryl J. McCarty Executive Secretory Utah Education Association Preservation of health a duty "Preservation of health is a duty. Few people seem to be conscious of such a thing as physical morality." So said the great philosopher-physician philosopher-physician Hippocrates hundreds of years ago. It seems that we 20th Century adults do not believe or have not accepted his philosophy. Like Hippocrates, the physicians of today are continually warning us that too many Americans are overweight and under-exercised. Evidence of this isn't hard to spot. Too many of us have that "middle age spread" before we're out of our twenties. Too many of us puff for five minutes after walking up a few stairs. If. as Hippocrates said, preservation of health is a duty, then this means parents have two duties keeping themselves fit and helping their children to do likewise. Kids are great watchers. If they see Dad consume a third helping of cheesecake, then that's the encouragement en-couragement they may need to. become "desert freaks." On the other hand, if they see Mom outrace half the neighborhood kids in a 60-yard dash, chances are they'll start jogging those two miles with her every morning. Spring is nearly here. It's the season of vitality, activity and renewal. In short, it's probably the very best time to get the entire family involved in health consciousness. If you can make smart eating "the thing do to" at your dinner table, you may be arousing a sense of self-pride in your children that will stay with them for their lives. If you can make regular exercise . "the thing to do" in your family, you may make those lives much longer and happier. Listen to Hippocrates and your family doctor. They have some good lessons for you and your children. |