Researchers led by Dr. Cheryl Anderson studied 681 parents of 430 children in grades three to five in Houston, Texas. If parents encouraged their children to participate in vigorous team sports such as soccer, and hard exercise, such as bicycling, swimming or heavy household chores, their children tended to be more active than children who had no such encouragement.
Dr. Anderson's study revealed some gender bias, as parents tended to encourage their sons to participate in sports and strenuous activities more often than their daughters. Boys were more likely to perform heavy outdoor chores such as yard work.
Along with healthy diet, regular exercise is one of the most important factors in the fight against rising rates of obesity among young people.
Posted By: Aspen/CRC
