How far should legislation go to curb teenage obesity?

In this month's issue of the Ledger-Enquirer teachers, administrators, and students are coming together in opposition of a Bill that seeks to set minimums for the amount of daily exercise students will be required to have in school, which in turn will cut or eliminate choir and other electives from the curriculum. Sponsored by House Majority Leader Ken Guin, the bill seeks to address adolescent obesity. Amongst the United States, Alabama ranks highest in overweight teenagers.
Guins bill proposes an exercise regiment of a minimum of at least 200 minutes a week for elementary schools students and 225 minutes for middle school and high school students as a way to solve this growing epidemic. Both students and teachers agree there is a need for more exercise, but are in opposition of the reform taking away extra curricular activities.
High school student and classical guitarist, David Zeigler perception of the bill is:

"High school teaches us to be well-rounded and I believe in fueling the body.
But what about everything else? What about the soul? And that's what music
is all about."

Senior Kylie Drury plays softball for Smiths Station High School and sings in the choirs.

"It's a hard thing for me because I am an athlete and a musician -- I can't choose between the two," she said. "I am so involved in my sports and always have been. But when I got to high school I got involved in my music and it's become such a part of me that I'm going to college in secondary education to teach and coach, but my minor will be in music. For a lot of kids, it deprives them of the opportunity to grow in what they have."

Senior soprano Katherine Buck is also the drum major for the Smiths Station marching band.

"I completely see the point of the bill. We do need more exercise -- America is obese and that's a fact," she said. "But I don't see why we need to take out music or any other extracurricular. It's been proven that any type of music you do involves using both sides of your brain. It is proven that students who participate in music are your smarter students."