Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

Not getting enough exercise puts teenagers at risk for high blood pressure, according to a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

• Researchers in Canada studied 1,300 students (ages 12 to 13 years old) over a five-year period.
  
• They kept kept track of the children's exercise and measured their body fat and blood pressure regularly.
  
• When the children failed to exercise, their blood pressure readings tended to increase.

The recommended amount of exercise is 30 minutes of low-level intensity exercise such as walking every day, and 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week. The researchers noted that half of all Canadian children do not get sufficient exercise.

Labels: health, teens, exercise, hypertension

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An study on animals has revealed that a high-fat diet takes an immediate toll on short-term memory and the ability to exercise.

• Researchers at Cambridge University in Britain fed rats a low-fat diet and trained them to complete a maze.
  
• Then half the rats were switched to a high fat diet.
  
• Within just four days, the rats on the high fat diet began to fail the maze test, and they performed 30 percent worse on treadmills.

"We expected to see changes but not so dramatic and not in such a short space of time," said Professor Andrew Murray. "It was really striking how quickly these effects happened."

The study appeared in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Labels: diet, brain_activity, research, exercise, memory

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One in five British children told researchers that exercise is a chore, you only need to do it if you're overweight, and they can't be bothered to do it, according to a new study from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

We have a generation of kids growing up with a shockingly blasé attitude toward exercise, Dr. Mike Knapton, BHF's director of prevention and care, said in a Sept. 28 Telegraph article. If trends continue in Great Britain, the paper reported, two-thirds of children will be overweight or obese by 2050.

Researchers found that more than half the children who were studied were spending an hour or more a day on the Internet.

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A new study from Australia recommends that children watch no more than two hours of television a day. ore than that amount leads to a decline in physical fitness, according to research from the University of Sydney.

• Dr. Louise Hardy had 2,750 children ages 11 to 15 years old undergo physical fitness tests.
• Dr. Hardy and her team also surveyed the children about how often they played computer games and watched television.
• Almost 10 percent of the children spent more than six hours a day engaged in "small screen" time.
• The children who spent more than two hours a day watching television were less likely to pass the physical fitness tests.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children watch no more than two hours a day -- a recommendation that Dr. Hardy said is supported by her team's research.

"As it turned out, the experts were fairly spot-on," Dr. Hardy said. "The two hours [limit] is a good benchmark.

Labels: television, screen_time, exercise

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Dr. Joe Thompson, the surgeon general of the state of Arkansas, brought an important message to the kids at the Fayetteville Boys & Girls Club: Progress has been made in the fight against obesity, but theres more work yet to be done.

"Dr. Joe Thompson thanked participants in the clubs summer programs for participating in physical activities through the organization, saying places like the club are 'exactly what we need,'" reported the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette "He encouraged the students to find a physical activity they enjoy and stick with it throughout their lives."

Based on body mass index screenings, Arkansas seems to be turning a corner in its campaign to prevent childhood obesity. Dr. Thompson, a pediatrician, has served as the state's surgeon general for four years.

Labels: childhood_obesity, prevention, exercise

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For a group of middle school students in California, the days of sitting (or lying) in the grass during gym class, listening to a lecture about softball rules are over. At Antelope Crossing Middle School, physical education students don't have much time for lying around (unless, of course, they're on their backs doing so some ab crunches)

These days, you're more likely to find students checking the heart-rate monitors they've strapped on during jump rope to "stay in the zone," try for that aerobic threshold on the step trainer, and harden those abdominals and obliques with side planks. -- Source: Fort Meyers (Fla.) News-Press

In 2008, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education selected Antelope as one of the nation's four "star schools." Antelope's award-winning program is aimed at teaching students not only to engage in a lifetime of physical activity, but also to enjoy the experience.

Finding physical activities that a child enjoys is an important part of encouraging that child to get an adequate amount of exercise. Children who remain active -- and who follow a nutritious diet -- are less likely to experience the many health effects of childhood obesity.

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More than 75,000 children across the country are participating in youth running programs aimed at preventing childhood obesity. The programs are funded by the New York Runners Foundation's "Team for Kids."

"Here in New York where one in 10 people suffer from Type 2 diabetes and many other chronic, terrible diseases that are related to obesity, weve created two programs which start teaching kids about the wonderfulness of physical activity and in particular running and walking," said New York Road Runners Foundation Executive Director Cliff Sperber. (Source: NY1 News)

The programs who which Mr. Sperber referred are the Mighty Milers and Young Runners, which are designed for younger and older kids, respectively. Both programs teach young people about the basics of running, and help them build their strength and endurance. Achieving milestones builds confidence, which increases the likelihood that the kids will continue to exercise even when they're adults.

Obesity research has determined that following a nutritious diet plan and engaging in regular physical activity are two of the most important components in a young person's effort to avoid childhood obesity and grow into a healthy adult.

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A study that was presented before the European Congress on Obesity found that the obesity epidemic in the United States is a result of overeating, not under-exercising.

"Weight gain in the American population seems to be virtually explained by eating more calories ... Changes in physical activity played a minimal role," said Boyd Swinburn, director of the World Health Organization.

Researchers calculated the actual number of calories needed every day by tracking 1,400 adults and 960 children. Then they calculated the number of calories Americans actually ate between the years 1970 and 2000, based on the amount of food produced annually, the amount thrown away, and the amount used by animals.

By comparing the figures, the researchers then predicted that adults would be 23.8 pounds heavier in 2000 than they were in 1970. The actual number was 19.6 pounds, which was close to the estimate.

The researchers explained that modern American adults would have to cut 500 calories a day, or exercise moderately for 110 minutes a day, to weigh what they did 30 years ago. For children, the statistics translate to a decrease of 350 calories per day and an increase of 150 minutes of moderate daily exercise.

As summertime approaches, children who are having trouble following a healthy diet or getting adequate amounts of exercise may benefit from participating in a science-based, professionally supervised weight-loss summer camp.

Labels: overeating, obesity_rates, exercise

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An Ohio study has discovered that children in day care centers are not getting much exercise because directors do not want them to get hurt, and parents want them to spend time doing academics.

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

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Exercising can reduce belly fat, even if the exerciser is not dieting, according to a new study from the University of Illinois.

Dr. Jeffrey Woods divided mice into four groups: One group exercised, one group was sedentary, one group was put on a low-fat diet without exercise, and one group followed both a low-fat diet and an exercise regime.

"The surprise was that the combination of diet and exercise did not yield dramatically different and better results than diet or exercise alone," said Vicki Vieira, lead author of the study.

Only the sedentary mice had a significant increase in belly fat, which is linked to heart disease and diabetes.

"Even if you struggle with dieting, we believe you can still reduce the likelihood of developing obesity-related inflammatory diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, by adding a modest amount of exercise to your life," said Dr. Woods.

This study appeared in the American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism.

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Teenagers get more exercise in warm weather months, but this does not compensate for an acute drop-off in exercise time during the winter, according to a new study from Canada.

For five years, researchers monitored 1,293 Montreal-area students ages 12 and 13. The most common reason the children canceled unplanned physical activities was bad weather, but planned activities often took place regardless of weather.

The research team recommended that a "variety of activities be available in winter," both indoor and outdoor.

Weather is just the latest in a list of obstacles to exercise that have been cited for preventing young people from getting an adequate amount of healthy activity. However, many health and weight loss experts have noted that overweight young people can overcome obstacles to exercise, and can reap the many benefits that are associated with following a healthy diet and remaining physically active.

Labels: overweight children, teens, exercise

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It's been well established that getting kids moving can have a positive effect on their weight and health. Now, a a small study from the University of Illinois has revealed that physical exercise might also improve children's mental abilities.

Dr. Charles Hillman and his colleagues had 20 nine-year-olds take tests in spelling, reading and math after they took a 20-minute rest, and then after they exercised for 20 minutes on a treadmill.

"What we found is that following the acute bout of walking, children performed better on the flanker tasks," Dr. Hillman said. "They had a higher rate of accuracy, especially when the task was more difficult."

Performance in reading comprehension was particularly better after exercising, Dr. Hillman said.

Dr. Hillman's co-author, Darla Castelli, recommended that each elementary school child have outdoor recess every day, and 150 minutes of physical education per week. High school students should get 225 minutes of physical education per week, she said.

This study appeared in the journal Neuroscience.

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Some schools in states like Minnesota are experimenting with "standing stations" instead of desks and chairs. Standing up burns more calories and may make students feel less restless, according to their teachers. Teachers say that standing helps some students focus better, although other students find it too distracting.

The standing stations are not cheap - they cost about $250 each compared to $80 for a conventional desk and chair. Grants from the Tozer Foundation, the United Way, and some government entities are funding the experiment.

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Parents believe that their preschoolers eat more nutritious diets and exercise more often than school-age children do, but according to a study from the University of Tennessee, both groups behave about the same.

Dr. Hollie Raynor asked parents of 174 children ages two to 12 about their diet and leisure activities. Parents of preschoolers ages two to five reported that their children watched less television, exercised more, and ate more nutritious foods than parents of children ages six to 12 did. However, when the researchers kept track of what the children were actually doing and eating, there was little difference between the two groups.

Children with healthy weight levels watched fewer hours of television than did children who were overweight or who were at risk for developing weight problems.

This study appeared in the Journal of Nutrition.

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A new study gives parents one more reason to encourage overweight children to exercise: Exercise helps control anger and aggressive behaviors.

Researchers from the Medical College of the Georgia School of Medicine enrolled 208 participants, ages 7 to 11 years old, in a two-month aerobic exercise program. Other participants did not exercise and became part of a control group. Both groups took the Pediatric Anger Expression test before and after the study.

According to lead researcher Dr. Catherine Davis, "aerobic exercise may be an effective way to help overweight children reduce anger expression and aggressive behaviors," such as hitting, slamming doors, etc.

Dr. Davis plans to perform another study on the effect of exercise on cognitive skills.

This study appears in Pediatric Exercise Science.

Labels: exercise, aggression, anger

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Students at Marsh Elementary School in Antioch, California, are learning to count their steps with the help of pedometers that were provided to the school through the California Center for Physical Activity.

During the 90 minutes a week they spend in her class, [physical education teacher Wendy] Jones' students attach the blue, pager-size units to their waistband. The technology tracks not only their progress toward the goal of logging 10,000 steps a day, but also calculates how many miles they cover based on the length of their strides.

Once students have learned how to use the pedometers, they can take them home and wear them all the time. Fifth-graders will get to keep the pedometers at the end of the school year. Source: East County Times (CA)

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Healthy eating and exercise habits are not only necessary to reverse childhood obesity, but to prevent it. Parents may be tempted to worry less about kids' diets if their weight is within a healthy range.

Reversing bad habits is always much more difficult than avoiding them in the first place... The best approach is to tackle the issue as a family, not just as something to be forced on the kids. Working to improve the entire family's diet and exercise habits can lay the foundation for lifelong health for your kids.

If your children are healthy and active, take steps now to ensure that they continue these healthy habits for the rest of their lives. Source: McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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The American Heart Association reports that engaging in moderate to vigorous activity three to five times a week can have dramatic and positive effects on a person's overall health. To get children moving, parents should choose an activity that seems more like play than exercise - for example, jumping rope.

"The best way to get your kids to put down the video game controller and pick up the jump rope, according to Brian Dodge, jump rope coach and member of the Guam Skipjacks, is to keep it fun. 'I like to introduce them to the long rope with jump rope readiness games and making it fun by letting them jump to music,' he said."

Dodge started jumping rope five years ago as a way to help control his cholesterol levels. He quickly began coaching young people in the activity, and even started an annual Jump Rope Competition. He encourages anyone who's trying to get in shape or lose weight to try it. Source: Pacific Daily News (Guam)

Labels: exercise, activity, having_fun

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In the battle against childhood obesity, parents, teachers and physicians are all calling for children to increase their levels of activity. Unfortunately, on of the primary sources of physical activity for children - recess - is slowly disappearing from public schools.

"Cutting recess time is a growing trend across the country, but some education experts say that's a mistake. Having an outlet such as recess helps student's focus in the classroom, they say, and it helps combat childhood obesity rates..."

A recent study of one county in Georgia found that 35 percent of the elementary schools had no recess at all. All nine of the schools that were surveyed were in high-poverty areas, where school administrators felt that students needed extra classroom time. Source: Macom.com

Labels: schools, exercise, recess

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The premise 'sound body, sound mind' is behind new Texas legislation that will require physical activity and assessment tests for all Texas middle school students.

"Specifically, the measure mandates 30 minutes of daily physical activity in at least four semesters during middle school, grades six through eight. It also requires that schools begin giving aerobic, abdominal, flexibility and upper body tests to students in grades three through twelve."

If the bill is signed by the governor, the assessments will start this fall. High school students are already required to have 1.5 credits of physical education. The new legislation for middle school students won't take effect until the 2008-09 school year. Read more online.

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Last year, North Carolina celebrated its inaugural "Talk a Child Outside Week." This year, the week-long focus on walking and exercise was recognized across the country.

"'Take A Child Outside Week' is designed to encourage outside play and exploration to combat obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control more than 17 percent of children are obese, and millions more are overweight. Experts believe outside play and exploration for as little as 30 minutes a day can combat the trend."

"Take A Child Outside Week" ran through Tuesday, September 30th. Source: Tallahassee Democrat

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Lori Comshaw was actively involved in her running group in Washington State. When she moved to Georgia, she discovered that her city didn't have a running program for young people.

"She decided to create a program to give kids a chance to become marathon runners...The Aiken Parks and Recreation Department's two-month running program challenges children from kindergarten through fifth grade to run a mile a day, and up to five miles a week, from Aug. 22 to Oct 25."

The program culminates in a 1.2 mile run, brining the kids' total miles up to 26.2 - equal to a marathon. All the children get T-shirts and a race number, and they run the final 1.2 miles together. Source: The Augusta Chronicle

Labels: exercise, fitness

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The average American child spends 24 hours a week watching television, plus an ever-increasing amount of time staring into a computer monitor. As getting kids up and moving becomes harder and harder, what's a parent to do?

"Make exercise a family affair. Plan active family outings, like trips to the zoo or the playground, bike rides, or playing ball together. Take long walks after dinner and set goals as a family for distance or time. It's a great way to spend time together, and including all family members prevents a child from feeling singled out."

Assign chores that are active (like washing the car or vacuuming) and provide toys that encourage activity as well. Above all, regulate television and computer time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours per day. Source: Tampa Bay Online

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A study that was published in the July 16, 2008, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that though 90 percent of 9-year-olds get an average two hours of physical activity a day, less than 3 percent of 15-year-olds are that active. Researchers who participated in the study monitored the physical activity of 1,000 children from 2000 to 2006.

"The study suggests that fewer than a third of [15-year-olds] get even the minimum recommended by the government - an hour of moderate-to-vigorous exercise..."

Lead author Philip Nader says people don't recognize this for the crisis it is, citing the drop in activity as one of the primary contributors to childhood obesity. Source: Clarion Ledger (Mississippi)

Labels: exercise, activity, teenagers

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Nine year-old children are active for more than three hours a day - but by age fifteen, individual activity levels drop to less than 45 minutes per day, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers found that only a third of teenagers got the recommended minimum one hour a day of aerobic exercise, and that age 13 was the year that activity levels dropped off dramatically. Things got worse on weekends, too, when activity decreased from 49 minutes a day to 30.

The scientists speculated that older teens tend to watch television or play videos with friends, rather than pursuing active games.

"I was surprised by the degree of the drop. Its a dramatic shift," said Dr. James Griffin of the National Institutes Center for Research for Mothers and Children. "Younger children appear to be naturally active, but as kids get older, they find fewer opportunities to be active."

The study, led by Dr. Philip Nader, a professor of pediatrics at University of California, San Diego, tracked over 1,000 American children from 2000 to 2006, providing them with devices that recorded their movement.

Labels: exercise, activity, teenagers

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On July 5, bicyclists in central Minnesota set out in an attempt to break the Guinness record for the world's largest bike parade. The event is being organized by BLEND (Better Living: Exercise and Nutrition Daily).

"Bicyclists gathered Saturday afternoon at Whitney Park in St. Cloud for a 2-mile ride. Organizers say they will document the attempt and have it submitted to Guinness World Records.... and it's all part of the effort to combat childhood obesity."

The current bike parade record is 2,152, set earlier this year in Taiwan. Organizers of the July 5 event are hoping for more than 2,500 participants. Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Ray McNulty from Treasure Coast Newspapers in Florida was feeling nostalgic. In his column, he reminisces about all the time he spent with his dad when he was a kid. His dad taught him to box, play sports, and enjoy being active and healthy, but few of today's kids are getting that same experience.

"...kids need more activity than the P.E. they get in school. That's the only exercise some kids get. That's got to change. And it's up to you fathers out there to change it - the way your kids eat and play and think."

Turn off the video games, McNulty encourages. Pick up a ball and teach your kids that sports can be fun, even when they're not played on a screen. Source: Treasure Coast Newspapers

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While it may be true that interactive games like those made for Nintendo's Wii console encourage players to get up and move, a study has determined that these games don't keep children active enough to keep them healthy. One example of research that was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine was the discovery that real tennis is 77 percent more physically demanding than the video version.

"The study authors calculated that in a typical week, a child who played Wii sports would use about 2% more energy than one playing sedentary computer games. They said the increase was 'trivial', and the activity was not intense enough to be counted in the recommended daily amount of physical activity."

Though Wii-like gaming may offer some benefit to a child's metabolic health, the research is inconclusive in this area. The bottom line, experts say, is that virtual tennis or boxing are no substitute for the real thing. Source: Sydney Morning Herald

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People who carry pedometers or set walking goals for themselves end up walking as much as an extra mile every day, according to a study in the November 21, 2007, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Pedometers are small devices that count steps when you walk.

Researchers at Stanford Medical School examined the records of 2,767 people and found that pedometers and walking goals helped them get more exercise, lose weight, and slightly improve their blood pressure.

"The bottom line is that everything works for a month," said Dr. Robert Lustig, lead author. "Everything novel works. If you have the motivation, a pedometer helps. If you don't, it's useless."

Labels: exercise, walking

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The program TrimKids was created 18 years ago by an exercise physiology professor who wanted to encourage entire families to get fit together. The program has been implemented into several New Orleans-area YMCAs.

"Through weekly meetings, nutrition lessons, exercise sessions and visits with behavior counselors, children learn how to control their weight and make healthy choices."

Louisiana's obesity rate is currently higher than the national average. A trend it's hoping to change through programs like TrimKids. Source: The Times - Picayune

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In response to growing concerns over childhood obesity, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a set of recommendations regarding children's physical activity and the amount of time they spend in front of televisions and computer screens.

"Boys should take at least 11,000 steps a day. Girls should take at least 13,000 steps a day and children should limit total screen time to two hours a day."

A new study has tested these recommendations and found that children who didn't follow them were three to four times more likely to be overweight or obese. Source: Science Daily

Labels: exercise, computers, activity

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Debra Zarella isn't a certified physical trainer, but she has plenty of clients. When they're not working out, they're probably watching cartoons, playing video games, or practicing their spelling. Zarella designed her Healthy Kidz fitness club for just that - kids.

"Every piece of equipment in the gym is pint-sized to meet the needs of its pint-sized clients. Gym owner Debra Zarella got the idea after her own gym fell short for her seven-year-old daughter."

A typical workout consists of a warm-up on the treadmill and three rounds of strength-building on hydraulic resistance machines. A dietitian and nutritionist are onsite as well, and each training session costs just $15. Read more at ABC-7.com.

Labels: exercise, parents, role_models

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Barbara Jones Slater became, at 15 years old, the youngest woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal. It's a record she still holds. Now, at 71, she's encouraging young people to be active. She recently spoke at a conference aimed at fighting childhood obesity.

"The conference - 'Healthy Cultures, Healthy Kansas: Moving Forward' - was sponsored by the Center for Health Disparities at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. It kicked off April as National Minority Health Month, said Sharon Goolsby, program director for the Center..."

About 150 people attended this third annual conference, which included breakout sessions and a wellness center that offered health screenings and chair massages. Read more at CJOnline.com.

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North Carolina has unveiled a new program called "Be Active HOPS" that uses a blend of media, technology, and physical activity to help kids get more exercise.

"The program uses vibrant video presentations using music and graphics to lead students through exercise sessions, celebrities who appear as the video instructors - they coach, encourage and inspire kids to get moving... [and] a variety of activities and expertise that physical education instructors love."

A four-month impartial study of the Be Active HOPS program found that the program provides a more efficient use of physical education class time than traditional methods. Read more at WNCT.com.

Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas is a year-round boarding school for overweight and obese teens. Wellspring Academies are the world's most effective programs for weight loss. Designed for children, teens, and young adults ages 11-24, students at our Academies demonstrate the best documented outcomes of any non-surgical weight loss intervention for any age group.

There's also a summer camp option in North Carolina - Wellspring Adventure Camp North Carolina is the most fun, most effective summer program for weight loss and behavioral change ever developed for children and younger teens.

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Mississippi is often ranked 1st or 2nd in childhood obesity. In an effort to get scales moving in the opposite direction, former Miss Mississippi contestant Catherine Carter helped develop an exercise program called "You Gotta Move."

"[Carter] says this is important because it educates children about the importance of daily exercise, and it shows them at an early age that it is fun to be fit and healthy. Pediatricians are reporting more frequent cases of obesity related diseases in children such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol."

You Gotta Move was created for use in kindergarten through 2nd grade classrooms. The DVD contains exercises that kids can do right at their desks. Read more at WLBT.com.

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While parents are working out at the Cooper Aerobics Center in McKinney, Texas, their kids are getting a workout of their own. The center has created "The Corral", a kids' play area complete with interactive video games using both Nintendo's Wii and the Cybex Trazer.

"Both machines incorporate movement with game play. The Wii uses a wireless wand that lets kids do everything from play tennis and baseball to race a cow over rows of scarecrows. The Trazer uses a sensor on a belt buckle that gets kids to jump, dodge and throw in games where kids compete with a virtual soccer goalie and jump and reach to keep exploding bombs from falling on them."

Fitness director David McGarry said the idea for The Corral came as a response to growing childhood obesity concerns. He wanted to create something more than just a daycare center. So far, The Corral is a big hit among both kids and parents. Read more at McKinneyMessenger.com.

Labels: exercise, video_games, gyms

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As the British government continues trying to tackle the problem of childhood obesity, plans are in the works to limit the amount of time children spend playing video games.

"Popular consoles such as the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii can be fitted with devices to restrict the amount of time children use them and parents could be given advice on how to activate these limiters."

Schools may also begin enforcing nutritional standards, not just on school-provided meals, but on meals that students bring from home as well. Read more at Telegraph.co.uk.

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In the Las Cruces Public Schools (New Mexico), health and nutrition expert Barbara Berger has outlined suggestions for increasing students' physical activity; by using activity - instead of food - as a reward.

"Children love being active, so it seems logical that activity be used as a real reward. Instead of celebrating with a pizza party or an ice cream social in class, try a fun outing such as a nature walk or a game of tag... For older students, how about a jump rope contest, H-O-R-S-E (basketball shooting game) or playing with hula hoops?"

By substituting activity for food, kids not only learn to more greatly appreciate and enjoy physical activity but they reduce the risk of develop unhealthy attitudes towards food. Read more at LCSun-News.com.

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A recent Kaiser Family Foundation study found that the average American child spends 44 hours a week in front of an electronic screen (computer, television, etc.). As concern over childhood obesity continues, people like Richard Louv  author of "Last Child in the Woods"  are suggesting that it's time for families to schedule less and play more.

"...a growing wave of research indicates that children who spend time outdoors are healthier, overall, than their indoor counterparts. Children who regularly spend unstructured time outside play more creatively, have lower stress levels, have more active imaginations, become more active and fitter, develop stronger immune systems, experience fewer symptoms of ADD and ADHD, have greater respect for themselves, for others and for the environment."

To give parents some ideas for outdoor play, the National Wildlife Federation has created a website: www.greenhour.org on which it offers ideas for backyard adventures and outdoor exploration.

Labels: exercise, fitness, playgrounds

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This winter, the Canadian Ski Council is again offering its Grade5 SnowPass program. The program, aimed at 10-year-olds, gives kids a free, day-long skiing or snowboarding pass at each of the participating resorts.

"The Canadian Ski Council is launching this year's annual SnowPass program in an effort to expose kids to winter sports, and in particular to skiing and snowboarding. Skiing and snowboarding can provide a full day of fun and exercise for the entire family. In fact, a day on the hill can burn up to 2000 calories. Studies also show that involving kids in outdoor sports leads to active lifestyles later in life."

Obesity rates are steadily increasing in Canada, and kids especially at risk of developing unhealthy lifestyles during the winter when most would choose to stay inside and play videogames. Applications for the SnowPass program are available online at ww.snowpass.ca.

Labels: exercise, lifestyle, winter_sports

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New York Sports Clubs (NYSC), the largest operator of fitness clubs in New York, and Snapple are hosting a 24-hour spin-a-thon to raise awareness and money to fight childhood obesity. The event will take place on January 18, 2008 at the Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

"Corporate sponsors or individual riders will contribute a minimum of $100 an hour to participate in Saints and Spinners and all proceeds raised will benefit HealthCorps, the student health education program founded by 'Oprah's Doctor' Mehmet Oz in response to America's childhood obesity crisis. The goal of the event is to raise $375,000 to fund 5 new HealthCorps programs - one for a high school in each borough of New York City."

One-hundred riders will participate at a time, for 55-minute intervals, with each interval being led by a "Celebrity Spinner". This will be the largest spinning event in New York City History.

Labels: awareness, exercise, celebrities

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Soccer star Kristine Lilly and tennis legend Billie Jean King will be at the University of Massachusetts on Tuesday to launch an initiative titled GoGirlGo!. The purpose of the initiative is to raise awareness about the important role fitness should play in the lives of young girls.

"GoGirlGo! is the brainchild of the Women's Sports Foundation, which already has launched successful initiatives in Atlanta, Chicago, and San Antonio...The Women's Sports Foundation, which has done extensive research on the connection between successful young women and fitness, determined the health of today's girls is 'threatened by inactivity'. According to the Foundation, regular participation in physical activity during adolescence promotes self-confidence and a positive body image."

The GoGirlGo! Boston initiative will conduct workshops, report on the state of girls' physical activity and health, and provide grants for organizations that offer physical activities for girls.

Girls who struggle in a co-ed school environment often prosper in an all-girls setting. Visit BoardingSchoolsforGirls to find girls schools.

Labels: exercise, sports, athletes

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona is launching its third consecutive Walk On! program, an initiative designed to promote healthier living among school children. In its first two years, the programs saw thousands of students take billions of steps, literally, toward more active lifestyles.

"BCBAZ has enhanced the Walk On! Challenge for 2008 to inspire even more Arizona fifth-graders around the state to walk. Enhancements include Walk4Life pedometers, subject-specific lesson ideas selected from submissions by teachers statewide and more incentives for participants."

Last year, 10,000 students participated in Walk On!, and walked more than 3 billion steps.

Labels: exercise, fitness, healthy_living

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Parents who find themselves at a loss for ways of helping their overweight children become healthier can rest easy. The results of a new study show that just two simple changes can help; increased physical activity by 2,000 steps per day (equals approximately one mile), and elimination of just 100 calories from the daily diet.

"This family-based study showed that, over six months, 67 percent of overweight children... maintained or reduced their percent BMI-for-age..."

Conducted by the University of Colorado at Denver, the study shows that managing a child's weight and overall health is easier than most parents think.

Labels: parenting, healthy_eating, exercise

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Most teens exercise too little and eat too many unhealthy foods - according to a study of Australian teens. Despite all of the warnings about obesity and its health risks, little is changing about the eating and exercise habits of today's adolescents.

"The survey, published in the September issue of Health Promotion International, found most students did less than one hour of physical activity a day. 'We found that only 14 percent of students engaged in recommended levels of physical activity,' [Dr. White] said."

The Australian department that oversees health issues recommends at least an hour of moderate physical exercise every day, and no more than two hours sitting in front of computer and television screens. Read more at News.com.au.

Labels: exercise, activity, unhealthy_food_choices

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Many adults know firsthand the benefits of pilates. It improves flexibility, conditioning, and self-esteem. It can also help people learn how to focus. The same benefits that are experienced by adults can also be experienced by kids.

"Seven's parenting expert Dr. Valerie Goode says what's great about this form of exercise is that if your child doesn't excel at sports, pilates is a great way to help build his or her self-esteem... In fact, pilates has been shown to increase flexibility, strength, endurance and coordination. Plus, it's a great stress-reliever."

With childhood obesity rates on the rise, a low-impact form of exercise like pilates can get kids up and moving and enjoying the benefits that come from developing a strong body and mind. Read more at WSVN.com.

Labels: self_esteem, exercise, stress

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In Wales, 3% more children are physically active now than were two years ago. The figures were part of the Sports Council for Wales Children's Participation Survey, which also found that parents have a powerful influence over their childrens activity levels.

"Around 54% of the children who reported that both of their parents played sport met the 5x60 target [60 minutes of physical activity, 5 days a week] compared with just 39% of children who recorded that neither of their parents played sport."

The increased popularity of things like video games, the Internet and television, which are mainly sedentary activities, coupled with parents who say they're too busy for anything but fast food means fewer and fewer kids are getting the exercise they need. Getting kids involved in sports at an early age not only helps combat obesity, but builds their self-esteem and helps them handle stress.

Read more at ICWales.ICNetwork.co.uk.

Labels: exercise, parents, influences

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Gilbert, Arizona has received a $39,000 grant from the Safe Routes to School Program. The program is designed to decrease traffic and increase the use of walk and bike paths to and from schools.

"Plans for the program call for printing maps of walking and biking routes and working with neighborhoods to encourage more students to walk or bike to school."

Some, however, worry about safety, and some elementary schools won't let their youngest students bike or walk to school. In all, a dozen Arizona cities and governments received grant funding for similar projects, aimed at reducing childhood obesity by encouraging children to walk to school.

Read more at AZCentral.com.

Labels: safety, exercise, walking

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The MEND program is designed to teach kids and their parents how to battle the eating and exercise habits that cause childhood obesity. MEND stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it!

"During the first hour [of the program] they look at healthy eating and during the second hour the children take part in physical activities while their parents continue with classroom based tasks."

This past weekend, eight children graduated from the program in Tower Hamlets.

Read more at 24dash.com.

Labels: healthy_eating, education, exercise

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Overtime Fitness Inc., in Mountain View, California, is one of the only gyms in the country that caters to teenagers. Founded by Patrick Ferrell, Overtime offers traditional fitness equipment as well as activities that appeal specifically to teens.

"Overtime, which opened in September and still hasn't turned a profit, is entering the market as established chains are trying to get kids to become lifetime members. San Ramon-based 24 Hour Fitness just started 'Hoopology,' a summer basketball pilot program in the San Francisco Bay Area for boys and girls ages 8-17."

Currently, the company is considering asking local businesses to fund membership for lower-income teens. Read more at KSDK.com.

Labels: exercise, fitness, gyms

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The Nation Association of Chronic Disease Directors has established an Obesity Workgroup intended to focus strictly on obesity prevention in America.

"Today's environment does not always promote healthy food and physical activity choices... Our nation's children are facing a burden of chronic diseases, which will impact the quality of their lives, and ultimately, may cripple the U.S. health care system."

The Workgroup will create an open forum where health departments from various states can dialogue and brainstorm prevention and health promotion ideas. Read more online.

Still looking for a summer camp for your overweight child? Check out Wellspring Camps to find a camp near you.

Labels: prevention, exercise, healthy_living

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Shaq has a new television show. Titled "Shaq's Big Challenge", the first episode aired last Tuesday, with the goal of motivating kids to lead healthier lives. Six Florida middle school students participate in the Big Challenge and the show tracks their progress.

"To combat complacency among his six young participants, O'Neal enlisted a 'dream team' of experts, including his own physician and trainer, Dr. Carlon 'Doc' Colker, personal trainer Tarik Tyler, nutritionaist Dr. Joy Bauer, and childhood obesity expert Dr. William Muinos."

O'Neal and his team hope to be a catalyst for young people, their communities, and the shows viewers. Read more at OCRegister.com.

Wellspring Family Camp is the world's first weight loss camp for young children and their parents. Children ages 5-13 attend Family Camp accompanied by one or more parents or grandparents for a two-week session or an intensive one-week session. There are still openings at camps starting later this summer. Visit www.wellspringfamily.com to learn more.

Labels: healthy_eating, exercise, lifestyle

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Since 2004, Schools on the Move... Step Club has been encouraging kids and parents to walk 20 to 30 minutes twice a week before class. Now, a $40,000 grant from St. John's Foundation for Community Health will ensure the program continues.

"Participants receive incentives as they achieve different levels in the program. About 2,000 elementary students and their parents participated in the 2006-07 school year, said Sandra Pratt, community recreation services administrator."

Six of the 24 Springfield, Missouri elementary schools participated during this last school year. Each school had at least 100 kids and parents walking together on a regular basis. Read more at News-Leader.com.

Labels: schools, exercise, incentives

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With the onset of warmer weather and time off from school, now is the perfect time for parents to help their kids make some healthy lifestyle changes. The changes they make now can go a long way towards combating childhood obesity which can lead to significant health problems later in life.

"Make activities fun. Exercise shouldn't be a chore, especially for children. With warm weather outside, kids can do a variety of activities that involve both fun and fitness. [Dr. Amy Bohn] recommends jumping rope, swimming, skateboarding, and bike riding as alternatives to inside play."

Dr. Bohn also recommends keeping healthy snacks in the house, and having the whole family take walks or bike rides together. Read more at NewsWise.com.

Labels: exercise, summers, lifestyle

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School playgrounds and recreational facilities could play a major role in helping to combat childhood obesity - but only if they remain open and accessible, says a recent RAND corporation study.

In many low-income areas where there is limited or no access to neighborhood parks, children are often heavier and more sedentary. Access to playgrounds, basketball courts and paved playing surfaces - such as those found in schools - could help to increase opportunities for physical activity. But many schools are closing their doors and their playground areas on weekends, researchers found.

Of those areas observed in the study, Washington/Baltimore, Tucson, and New Orleans schools were least likely to have unlocked schools with accessible facilities.

Labels: schools, exercise, playgrounds

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A group of researchers from Harvard took a unique approach when studying the causes of childhood obesity. Rather than placing the blame on a lack of activity in children's lives because of the internet, television and video games, they looked at overall caloric intake.

"Based on the rate of weight gain that occurred in children between 1998 and 1994, they suggest that reducing calories (or increasing physical activity) by just 110 to 165 calories a day could have prevented weight gain."

Believe it or not, reducing caloric intake is easier than it sounds. Just one 1.8-ounce bag of Skittles or 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of extra-crunch peanut butter contains between 140 and 200 calories. Cutting out just one of these per day would have the desired effect. Read more at StarTribune.com.

Looking for an outdoor education program for your child this summer? Find one at Wilderness Programs Info >>

Labels: healthy_eating, exercise, lifestyle

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Because May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, it's a great time to get your kids involved in some kind of sport or physical activity.

"Although some parents try to avoid youth sports until their kids are older, like 9 or 10 years old, because they want to avoid what they think is a competitive environment for their younger children, it is important to remember that most youth sports for younger kids are noncompetitive."

Even so, some kids don't like team sports. But parents should encourage their kids to try individual sports like swimming or tennis. Read more at Pediatrics.About.com.

Labels: exercise, fitness, sports

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School playgrounds and athletic fields could help reduce childhood obesity by giving children near-by places to run and play. However, recent studies have shown that many of these places are closed and locked on weekends.

"Girls who lived near locked schools tended to be heavier, and neighborhoods with locked schools were disproportionately poor and had larger minority populations', lead author Molly M. Scott, a RAND research analyst, said in a prepared statement."

Where public playgrounds and parks are lacking or unavailable, school playgrounds can offer children accessible, safe recreation areas... if they're unlocked. Read more at BabyCenter.com.

Labels: exercise, neighborhoods, playgrounds

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Do you feel discouraged that you can't seem to get your kids to sustain vigorous exercise for longer than a few minutes? A new study suggests that even 15 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise can reduce the risk of obesity, by as much as 70% in boys and 39% in girls.

Researchers from the University of Bristol in England found that boys and girls who increased their exercise even a little bit had a corresponding decrease in fat mass, which over time, may help to prevent obesity.

While the researchers were surprised that such a small change could provide dramatic results, they caution that further studies are needed to draw a conclusion regarding exercise and obesity prevention. They also remind parents that diet plays a very important part in obesity prevention, too.

Labels: prevention, exercise, fat camp

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The Los Angeles Times report that as little as 15 minutes of exercise every day could be enough to keep kids from gaining weight.

According to British and U.S. researchers, a study of 5,500 children wore "a motion sensor device showed that those who exercised more were less likely to be obese - and that short bursts of intense activity seemed to be the most helpful."

Read more about this study online.

Labels: research, exercise

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Adolescents who are very healthy get daily exercise, watch less than two hours of television per day, eat 5-6 servings or more of fresh fruits and vegetables, and eat very little fat. How does your child measure up to these standards?

If your child is lacking in one or more of these areas, he's not alone. In a study published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, nearly 80 percent of 11-15 year old children watch too much TV, exercise too little, eat too much fat and eat too few fruits and vegetables.

The best way to turn this around? Be a good role model. The researchers found evidence that parents' health behaviors were associated with children's health behaviors.

Labels: healthy eating, exercise, TV

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A new study concludes that children are less active in summer and therefore gain weight during those months.

Researchers from Ohio State University and Indiana University studied the growth and weight records of 5380 kindergartners and first graders. They found that increases in children's body mass indices (BMIs) doubled during the summer months but fell to normal during the school year.

Dr. Betsy Keller, a professor of sport sciences at Ithaca College in New York, commented on the study: "The big question in my mind is what are the parents doing with these kids during the summer? Unless they're paying attention to their child's level of activity and diet, with each passing summer they are just adding to the risk of them becoming overweight. These are five year-olds, after all. They're not going to the grocery store."

The study appears in the April issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Labels: exercise, rejection, summer_camp

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Just saying no to television does not mean that your child will use that lost time to exercise, according to a new study from Harvard Medical School.

Researchers led by Elsie Taveras had over10,000 children ages 10 to 15 years fill out annual questionnaires about their television viewing during the four year study. Girls averaged about ten hours a week of TV; boys averaged about fourteen. However, if a child started to watch less television, he or she did not necessarily spend more time in physical activity.

"Television viewing and physical activities are separate constructs and not functional opposites," Taveras concluded. "Simply restricting viewing may not be effective in increasing physical activity."

This study appears in the February 2007 issue of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Labels: research, exercise

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Every year, the first week of May is set aside by the National Association for Sport & Physical Education to promote healthy, active lifestyles. This year, the organization is acknowledging the numerous programs, like Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move,” that have been launched to address obesity.

“Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates a positive correlation between physical education and academic achievement and the ability to concentrate. Further research positively links classroom physical activity to improved attention, achievement and behavior. Co-curricular physical activity is also correlated to educational aspirations, school affiliation, graduation and grade-point average.” [Source: Gannett Wisconsin Online]

One of the programs initiated for the spring is a fundraiser involving tens of thousands of children from Wisconsin. The kids will be jumping rope and shooting hoops to raise money for and awareness of heart disease.

 

Labels: prevention, awareness, obese teens, exercise

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments

The Early Childhood Center at First Covenant Church in Omaha, Nebraska is one of many child care centers that are shifting their focus away from TV and board games, and toward nature centers and parks. The Childhood Center has claimed a small section of land, on which kids plant seeds, dig in the dirt and even find the occasional centipede.

“Researchers, educators and conservationists say many children today are missing the opportunity for unstructured play and exploration in nature. The Nature Exploration program helps centers design outdoor spaces, train staff to use them to full advantage and get families involved.” [Source: Omaha World-Herald]

There are currently 10 childhood programs in Nebraska that have been certified through the Nature Explore program, and there are about 36 across the United States.

Initiatives that encourage children to play outdoors are seen by many experts as important components in a comprehensive effort to reverse rising rates of childhood overweight and obesity.

 

Labels: exercise, playgrounds

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments

May is designated as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, which means we’ll be hearing a lot about the importance of physical exercise. Health & Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius wanted to be one of the first to send the message, which does in a statement released today.

“An active lifestyle, combined with healthy eating, is the number one way to prevent obesity and key to preventing a host of serious obesity-related diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and asthma.” [Source: Medical News Today]

In addition, physical activity can increase your energy level, improve your concentration, and reduce stress. The whole family can mark National Physical Fitness and Sports Month by starting or re-starting regular physical activities. Even something simple, like a walk after dinner, can make a big difference!

 

Labels: exercise, fitness

Posted By: My Overweight Child 0 Comments

In what could be a breakthrough study, British researchers have concluded that children are overweight because they overeat, not because they don't get enough exercise. Once children are overweight, they will tend to exercise less. The conclusion of the research is that overeating causes overweight and lack of exercise follows once a child is too heavy.

The study has implications for public policy, because the British government has been increasing the number of minutes students have for physical education.

"More activity does not lead to weight loss," said Professor Terence Wilkin, one of the authors of the study.

Dr. Wilkin and his colleagues at Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth tracked 200 children from age seven to ten years old. The children wore devices to measure their physical activity. If a child was 10% fatter than average at age seven, he reduced his physical activity by an average four minutes a day by age ten.

"Our findings suggest that rather than giving children ever increasing doses of physical activity, we should first question the basic paradigm that more physical activity leads to less fat," according to the study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
 

Labels: overeating, causes of childhood obesity, exercise

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 0 Comments

Community interventions that promote increased exercise and healthy eating for overweight children work best with very small children, according to a study from Deakin University in Australia.

• Dr. Boyd Swinburn and his colleagues studied more than 12,000 children, and found that interventions lose effectiveness as the children get older.
• They were most effective with children under five, and achieved few results for children in elementary and high schools.
• Children in the preschool group had rates of overweight and obesity at 3 percent less than the control group.
• Some of the older children who participated in community interventions had slower levels of weight gains.

"Once you get to high school aged children, trying to implement an intervention at the whole community level becomes more difficult." Dr. Swinburn said during his presentation at the International Congress on Obesity.
 

Labels: childhood_obesity, nutrition, prevention, exercise

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This year, over 115 cities across the country have been named as 2010 Playful City USA communities. Florida topped the list, with 19 Playful cities, and Arizona and California tied for second place with ten communities each. The cities are chosen based upon their promotion of healthy physical activites among young people.

Playful City USA communities are making a commitment to play and physical activity by developing unique local action plans to increase the quantity and quality of play in their community.

In doing so, some of the most innovative ideas and cost-effective programs are being developed in Playful City USA communities – proving that parks and play are more important than ever. [Source: Los Cerritos (CA) News]

The cities are selected by KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization committed to promoting play and outdoor activities for kids. Its vision is to provide creative playspaces “within walking distance of every child.”

Labels: exercise, playgrounds

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A group of Kentucky parents have taken the initiative to start an after-school program aimed at keeping kids away from video games and junk food. Together, they met with officials from Berea (KY) Community Schools and asked that a fitness program be created.

“Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will be able to participate in the program with the parks department on Mondays from 2:20 to 3:30 p.m. On Fridays children will have the opportunity to participate in Zumbatomic (Zumba designed for children). This program will be offered to children free of charge…” [Source: The Richmond (KY) Register]

Maggie Kriebel, director of Berea’s Parks and Recreation Department, said the parks department is excited to work with the parents and offer the program. It’s a great example of what parents and government officials can do together in the fight against childhood obesity.
 

Labels: schools, prevention, exercise

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 2 Comments

As parents, schools and doctors across the country work to address our nation’s childhood obesity issues, some think our solutions are incomplete. In a letter to the editor that appeared in the Aug. 30 edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Marc Tinsley of Tinsley Health Services added his name to this list:

“Simply replacing a child’s unhealthy foods with healthier selections without explanation or incentives won’t cut it. Instead of cooperating, the child is thinking, ‘You’re taking away my favorite food,’" Tinsley wrote.

"Similarly, when we tell our children to go outside and play, they are hearing ‘You can’t watch your favorite show.’" he continued. "The children should be learning about the benefits of wellness and the consequences of unhealthy habits so that they can make healthy choices for themselves”

 

Labels: nutrition, parenting, prevention, exercise

Posted By: My Overweight Child 1 Comment

Poor diet and insufficient exercise puts children at risk for asthma even if they are of normal weight, according to a new study from the West Virginia School of Medicine.

• Dr. Giovanni Piedmonte and colleagues used data collected on 18,000 children ages 4 to 12 years old that included information on demographics, body mass index, and metabolic dysfunction.
• Asthma was more likely to occur among those with high triglyceride levels and those who had biomarkers for insulin resistance.
• Both of these as well as asthma are more prevalent among overweight and obese children, but Dr. Piedmonte found that asthma could develop into normal weight children who also had both metabolic markers.

"Both imbalanced nutrition and inadequate exercise may play a role in metabolic syndrome, and our experience suggests that degree of physical activity may be as important as nutrition," said Dr. Piedmonte. "Our present data suggest that strict monitoring and dietary control of triglyceride and glucose levels starting in the first years of life may have a role in the management of chronic asthma in children."

This study appears in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Labels: diet, exercise, asthma

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Yet another reason to encourage children to exercise: Middle school students perform better on mental tasks if they are physically fit, according to a new study from the University of Illinois. The children who were in good physical shape had enlarged hippocampi. The hippocampus is an area of the brain associated with better spatial reasoning and cognition.

• Professor Art Kramer and his colleagues used magnetic resonance imaging devices (MRIs) to watch brain images of 49 children ages nine and ten years old.
• The researchers focused on the size of the hippocampus, and found that those of physically fit children were 12% larger.
• This group of children performed better on tests that measured their ability to remember and to integrate information.

Dr. Kramer said that these findings suggest that interventions to increase children's physical activity could have an important effect on their brain development.

"If you get lousy genes from your parents, you really cannot fix that, and it's not easy to do something about your economic status," he said. "But here's something we can do something about."

The study appears in the journal Brain Research.

Labels: brain_activity, exercise, physical_activity

Posted By: CRC Health 1 Comment

When we were kids, we played hopscotch, hide-and-seek and kick-the-can. Today, kids play Wii, X-Box and PlayStation; and they do it all inside.

“The average American child age 8 – 18 spends more than 7 hours daily in front of screens – television, video games and cell phones, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study…The World Wildlife Federation suggests pitching a tent just steps from your door as part of the sixth annual Great American Backyard Campout June 26.” [Source: The Oregonian]

Getting kids away from their electronics and back outside doesn’t have to include a trip to a state park, or a long camping trip somewhere far away. A simple walk around the block can suffice.

Use the time to explore nature as it exists in your backyard and your neighborhood. Try to identify the trees, birds and insects that you see along the way. Help your kids begin to appreciate the real world as much as they do their “cyberworlds.”

 

Labels: exercise, nature

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment