Are you sprouting a spud?

By Staff
Jan. 25, 2004
Researchers at Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson say it's no mystery why one third of children in the U.S. are obese and 60 percent of overweight children between the ages of 5 and 10 have at least one risk factor for heart disease.
Cathy Henderson, a physical therapist, says a steady diet of fast food and sugar-filled snacks, along with an increase in sedentary activities, is putting children at risk of heart disease, diabetes and the propensity to become overweight adults.
Physical education classes have declined in schools over the last 10 years and children are watching more television now than ever, Henderson says.
She believes parents, who always have the most influential role in raising children, can help propel the next generation into a healthier adulthood by encouraging physical activity at an early age.
She suggests that implementing daily physical activity during early childhood will help establish good exercise habits and challenge motor coordination. That job, she says, best falls to parents, who can help their children develop positive attitudes about physical activity by making it a part of the family's weekly routine.
Limiting television, videos, computer games and Internet time will allow for more spontaneous physical activity, she says. Parents should be creative and encourage indoor games like Twister, which gets kids moving and promotes flexibility.
She even recommends that parents exercise with their children to set good examples and show them how much fun it can be.
Here are some of her tips for children and their parents:
Walk or ride a bike to school or a friend's house;
Take your children to the park or swimming pool on sunny days;
Play tag, Simon Says, chase and other sports;
Go for walks with the family after dinner instead of watching TV;
Encourage participation in sports at school and in the community;
Encourage physical activity by giving special equipment like a bat, ball or Frisbee.
More than likely, implementing these sorts of tips will also boost a child's self-esteem, mental health and academic performance, not to mention their attention span and energy level.
Sounds like a good plan.