Why children need to learn the importance of exercise

Childhood obesity statistics from 2007 reveal that almost 60 percent of children in America are obese (Overweight Children in America, 2007. Obesity means having too much body fat for one’s particular height and build. This number may currently be higher. Obesity results from a number of factors, including genetics, diet and a lack of physical activity. The latter two, diet and physical activity, can be modified to prevent childhood, and subsequently, adulthood obesity.

Current recommendations for physical activity by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for six to 17 year olds are 60 minutes of physical activity a day (www.cdc.gov). This physical activity can include aerobic and muscle strengthening exercises. Many children are not hitting their mark for the recommended amount of daily physical activity. Whereas children used to spend the majority of their free time out of doors, now video games and television have drawn kids indoors and into sedentary lifestyles. A sedentary lifestyle, with the addition of high fat, high sugar convenience foods, such as food from fast food restaurants, as well as processed and easy to access foods at home, have led to increased obesity in children.

Parents are responsible for preventing obesity in their children. This may be difficult if the parents themselves are obese. A combination of genetic predisposition, along with an unhealthy diet and a lack of physical activity which leads to a parent being obese may also lead his or her children into the same condition. Parents who have passed on a genetic predisposition to having more body fat, as well as modeling a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits will set their children up for having problems with weight and body fat that will likely plague the children throughout their lives.

Children do what their parents do. If from an early age, a parent takes a baby out for a walk most days of the week, first in a stroller and then as the child grows, allowing the child to walk on his own, the child will accept this habit of incorporating physical activity into his day. This will become normalized for the child, and he will likely continue to carry out the pattern as he moves through life. If a parent is someone who sits around in front of the TV or computer, eats unhealthy foods and serves the child unhealthy foods, the child is going to repeat this pattern and will likely have problems with weight and body fat.

Helping children develop a healthy lifestyle is not simply a matter of urging them to put the videogame controller down and go outside or enrolling them in a sport so they can get their exercise. Those are good ideas, but it is important for parents to show children that the parents are committed to keeping their own bodies healthy and that they expect the same from the children. Children will not do as we say if we don’t do as we say. Educating children about healthy lifestyles begins early. Feeding children healthy foods, emphasizing moderation in diet and incorporating physical activity into the family schedule will all serve to help children develop healthy habits that they will likely continue to engage in throughout their lives.

Families have to do physical activities together to get the kids interested early on. Taking a walk together, taking a family bike ride or hike, playing a pick-up game of baseball or basketball, swimming or taking up skiing together are just a few of the ways parents can help their children develop healthy exercise habits.

source: helium