Are Your Children at Risk?

Childhood obesity is growing at alarming rates

Written Exlusively for MyNutritionStore.com By Kelli Calabrese MS

There's reason to be concerned about the lack of activity in your children. Obesity is one of the most serious health problems facing our youth, and evidence suggests that the problem is only getting worse. Researchers comparing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys found that 11 percent of young people from 6-17 years of age were overweight in 1998 compared with about 4 percent in 1963. Children are selecting sedentary activities, such as television, video games and personal computing along with eating an abundance of processed high fat and sugary foods.

A survey reported that more than 40 percent of children 5-8 exhibit coronary risk factors, such as elevated blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol.

The National Federation of State High School Associations reported that 3.7 million boys and 2.4 million girls participated in more than 30 different high school sports in 1997. Children who get most of their exercise from sports will have to make lifestyle changes as they age. Formal athletic experiences do not provide the lifestyle skills necessary to start and maintain regular exercise.

More than a decade ago, congress passed a resolution urging individual states to require daily physical education programs for all school-aged children. The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance reported that a survey revealed that as many as half of our young people are not engaged in sufficient physical activity to develop adequate cardiovascular fitness. One third of school-aged boys and girls were unable to complete a mile run in less than 10 minutes.

The survey also found that only one state, Illinois, required all students from kindergarten to grade 12 to take physical education every day. Eight states had no school physical education requirements. During the '90's enrollment in physical education had reached an all-time low. According to the most recent data, only 60.7 percent of high school boys and 51.5 percent of high school girls are enrolled in physical education class.

The results of several studies have pointed out that children often don't even get much physical activity in their physical education classes. For instance, one study of elementary physical education classes found that in a 30-minute class, the average child was vigorously active for only 2 minutes. Only 76.3 percent of students in grades 9-12 who were taking physical education reported being physically active for at least 20 minutes a day.

A research group observed children during recess and concluded that they do not voluntarily engage in sufficient aerobic activity during recess to increase their cardio-respiratory fitness. Some schools have eliminated recess periods for children, while others allow them to spend recess indoors, where computers are available for homework and games.

Helping people develop physical fitness habits for a lifetime should start as early as possible. To help children develop a lifetime commitment, school physical education programs must help them learn how to establish personal exercise programs, test their own physical fitness and overcome obstacles to making fitness a permanent part of their life. The intent of physical activity programs should be to develop positive attitudes toward physical activity that will substantially influence adult activity patterns.

The problems caused by schools' failure to help children develop the skills to participate in physical activity are exacerbated as young adults enter the work force. A large-scale effort needs to be coordinated to improve the profile of the health of our youth.

If you can not rely on your child getting daily physical education through their school consider the following alternatives:

1.    You as a parent are their best role model.  Engage in daily active play with your child including swimming, going for a bike ride, playing ball, going for hikes and so on.

2.    Sign your child up for an activity in your community. Places like the YMCA or other community centers offer both child and adult classes in a variety of fitness disciplines.  Your child can try a different activity seasonally to see which one they most enjoy.

3.    Take lessons as a family.  Take turns letting each family member choose the activity they wish to engage in.  Examples might include a class in self defense, dancing, rock climbing or canoeing.  Taking the lessons as a family will bring you closer together - and get you fit.

4.    Join a league - most all schools and towns have leagues for sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball and other team sports.  Group activities teach team building as well.

5.    Plan an active family vacation that you all need to train for.  For example, maybe your winter vacation will include skiing. Spend the fall preparing for a great trip by strength training, taking ski lessons, and biking to build up endurance.

6.    Sign up for an event.  There are family relay races that are for good causes such as Special Olympics or cancer.  This can teach your child the importance of giving back, fund raising as well as training for something larger than themselves.

Remember that it's recommended for all children to take a multi-vitamin, get 7+ hours of sleep a night and eat balanced meals throughout the day. Limit the intake of "junk" foods and provide your child with a positive learning environment.

There is no shortage of ideas to get children engaged in regular physical activity.  Children always learn best through play and fun.  Exercise should not be forced upon a child.  Pay attention to the activities your child enjoys and expresses an interest in. Your child's enthusiasm for an activity can get the entire family in shape.

Kelli Calabrese - MS, CSCS, 2004 Personal Trainer of the Year. Kelli is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and 20 year fitness industry leader. She is the author of Feminine, Firm & Fit - Building A Lean Strong Body in 12 Weeks. She has 23 fitness, nutrition and lifestyle related certifications and is available for personal training, online training, iPod workouts, phone coaching, grocery shopping tours, seminarsmedia appearances. Kelli's personal mission is to provide individuals with the tools to make health, fitness and wellness a permanent part of their lives.  For more information go to www.KelliCalabrese.com or e-mail Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com