A side note on distance learning

Some months ago after my first harangue against distance learning I got a call from a fellow from a fitness magazine who wanted an interview.  Even more surprising than the notion that anyone ever reads these narcissistic, self-indulgent blogs (though that's redundant, as aren't all blogs, really?) was the spin he had for his article.  He was interested in the tie between fitness and distance learning.

I hadn't really thought about it before.  Of course we are becoming more sedentary; can you imagine our ancestors' reactions to people paying money to go exercise?  And everyone knows how overweight we Americans are. (The U.S. Government's Center for Disease and Prevention reports that the percentage of noninstitutionalized adults age 20 years and over who are overweight or obese is 67% [2005-2006]! I've also read that the fraction of overweight and obese children is over a third!)  But is there a connection between distance learning and fitness?

I don't know if it's a strong connection, as the physical exertion needed to get to class seems pretty minor, but perhaps distance learning is just one more symptom of a lifestyle now manifested by our inactive, unfit society.