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