Human Body as Perfect Complex Machine

Body coordination is a skill that significantly affects how well our bodies operate, even when we carry out a simple specific motion like fluttering our eyelashes, a process from molecular level takes place inside our body. As soon as we wake up, every organ in the body is at work.  Like a mechanical device, when in use, the human body moves. 

The human body is a complicated machine that utilizes numerous systems in combination to function correctly and effectively. The muscular, skeletal, cardio-respiratory, integumentary, nervous, and endocrine systems are just a few examples of the systems that are needed to function in order to complete a simple action.

The cardiovascular and respiratory systems carry and deliver the oxygen and nutrients the body needs to move; the integumentary system shields all other organs from physical harm while moving; the muscular system, which is made up of muscle fibers are responsible for majority of human movement;  the nervous system which helps send message back and forth to brain and the body to carry out movement; the skeletal system, which serves as the foundation of the human body and also aids in allowing the human movement; and the endocrine system which helps regulates biological processes in human body. 

The human body need energy to sustain and carry out physical action, much like a mechanical engine would cease to operate when its fuel ran out. Humans therefore require food that provides energy in order to move and function effectively. Studying energy expenditure, particularly the metabolic rate at which the body consumes energy during physical exercise, would help us better understand this.

As mentioned by W. Larry Kenny et.al. in Physiology of Sport and Exercise, "the range for total daily expenditure is highly variable and depends on physical activity, age, sex, body size, weight and body composition".  Each physical activity uses different amount of energy. They also made it clear that intensity and duration of the activity must be considered in determining the expended energy. 

However, no matter the age, body types, sex, gender, or body composition,  the human body wears out and eventually breaks down like any other machine. The impairment of muscle performance with sustained effort and generalized feelings of exhaustion are symptoms of fatigue.  Like a mechanical engine, the human body can become exhausted or run out of fuel, which is why it's important to rest.

Follow-up Questions: 

1. What are the several body systems mentioned in the article?

2. How do these body systems support human movement?

3. Do you agree that the human body is an ideal example of a complex machine? Why?

References: 

1.  W. Larry Kenny, PhD, Jack H. Wilmore, PhD, David L. Hostiel, PhD. 2015. Physiology of Sport and Exercise. ISBN 978-1-4504-77767-3 (print).

Obesity among students is prevalent but preventable.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 340 million school-age children and teenagers, specifically those between the ages of 5 and 19, were overweight or obese in 2020. One way to determine whether a student is obese is to calculate their body mass index (BMI). In the Philippines, one of the duties of the classroom adviser is to monitor and keep track of the Learner's Basic Health and Nutrition Report, also known as the automated School Form 8 (SF8), which provides a precise count of the number of students who fall into the categories of severely wasted, wasted, normal, overweight, and obese.

Studies have shown that frequent inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits, especially the consumption of junk food, are the main causes of obesity among students. Students are more exposed and more prone to indulge in fast food because of the industry's rapid expansion across the nation. The study of Robert W. Jefferey et.al. stated that, "eating at "fast food" restaurants was positively associated with having children, a high fat diet, and Body Mass Index (BMI)."

Students who are obese often times have trouble breathing while working on simple tasks at school. They also tire easily and are more likely to nod off during lectures.  In a research journal about obesity, it was discussed by Kirsi H. Pietilainen et.al., that physical inactivity in adolescence strongly and independently predicts total abdominal obesity in young adulthood, favoring the development of a self-perpetuating vicious circle of obesity and physical inactivity.

It was also mentioned in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that obesity is associated with different non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as increased risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), hypertension, cardio-vascular disease, gallbladder disease and cholecystectomy, and colon and postmenopausal breast cancer.  

In addition to health problems, stigmatizing obese students is another unfavorable effect of obesity. Students who are obese are frequently referred to some derogatory and backhanded terms linked with being overweight. Students who experienced stigma because of their weight usually experienced bullying and a sense of estrangement.

Obesity is preventable. A healthy-fiber-rich diet that includes foods like beans, grains, corn, wheat bread or pasta, broccoli, pineapple, mango, and other similar foods, together with regular participation in a variety of physical activities as part of daily routine, will also assist eradicate those unwanted fats and extra pounds. 

It is advisable to motivate these students to participate in healthy physical activity by getting them interested in sports teams and other organizations that support physical exercise for preventing childhood obesity rather than discriminating against them. Supporting these students emotionally and morally is also crucial. So it's highly advised to have moral and emotional support from the parents, peers, and teachers.

The problem of obesity among students is real and prevalent, but it may be avoided with the right direction from the responsible and caring party or individual, self-control, and self-discipline.

Follow up Questions: 

1. What are the various issues related to obesity that are brought up in the article?

2. What other strategies can you suggest to combat student obesity?

References: 

1. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2007.72

2. https://doi.org/10.1093/1jcn/55.2.503s

Strands offered in Senior High School (Philippines)

The Senior High School program was implemented across the country by the Department of Education in June 2016. This gives students options for specializing in fields related to their intended professional path.

Senior High School offers four tracks: Academic; Technical-Vocational-Livelihood; Sports; and Arts and Design.

Three (3) strands make up the Academic track: Business, Accountancy Management (BAM); Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS); and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Four (4) strands make up the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood: Agricultural-Fishery Arts (AFA); Home Economics (HE); Industrial Arts (IA); and Information and Communications Technology (ICT). 

Students in grade 12 who successfully complete Technical-Vocational-Livelihood are eligible to acquire a National Certificate II (NC II), for which the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority  (TESDA) will provide competency-based assessment.