Dr. Kristen Copeland of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and her colleagues studied 34 child care centers in the Cincinnati area.
"Child care providers told us many parents were more focused on their children learning cognitive skills such as reading, writing, and preparing for kindergarten than their participation in recess," Dr. Copeland in a May 5 press release that announced her findings.
"Some of the most valuable lessons in science, nature, cause and effect, and even important social skills ... all come from playing outdoors on the playground," she said in the release. Dr. Copelands report indicated that some centers do not have adequate playground equipment.
About 75 percent of children ages three to six years old are in child care centers at least part-time.
With childhood obesity associated with such a wide range of physical and psychological problems, experts advise parents to ensure that parents take action to get treatment for overweight children before any lasting damage is done.
Labels: childhood_obesity, causes of childhood obesity, exercise
Posted By: Aspen/CRC
