Slide 1: Re-Building the healthy Child
Scott Fleurant, ACE-CPT Saco Sport & Fitness 329 North St. Saco, Maine 04072 207-284-5953 x41 scottf@sacofitness.com CIS115 8/10/08
Slide 2: OuR OveRweight ChildRen
Is there a problem? And, if so….is there a solution?
Slide 3: yes, theRe is a pROBlem!
The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 more than doubled in the past 20 years going from 6.5% in 1980 to 17% in 2006. (1) The rate among adolescents aged 12 – 19 more than tripled, increasing from 5% to 17.6% during the same period. (1) yes, theRe is a pROBlem!!!
Slide 4: why is this happening?
Increased caloric intake/decreased nutritional value: 1. Increase in sugar loaded soda’s and sports drinks. 2. Increase in serving size’s at restaurants……would you like that “Super Sized Today”? 3. Vending machines in schools that contain products with no nutritional value! 4. The increase in consumption of processed foods, and the decrease in home cooked meals. 5. The skipping of breakfast (the most important meal of the day is not a wives tale!! 6. The lack of nutritional education!!!
Slide 5: why is this happening ii?
Decrease in physical activity: 1. The explosion of the technology industry
Too much TV Too much time playing video games (although the Wii has actually incorporated physical activities into their games). Too much time in front of a computer, on a cell phone, or playing a hand held game.
Slide 6: what Can we dO aBOut it?
The 3 E’s!
1. Educate - Educate our children on the benefits of healthy eating and exercise. 2. Encourage - Encourage our children to participate in more outdoor activities, sports, and exercise programs 3. Example - As parents, we should lead by example. Children often become by-products of their surroundings. If others in the home are actively exercising, and eating healthy the odds would favor our children doing the same.
Slide 7: But, is exeRCise safe fOR ChildRen?
Strength training can be a safe and effective activity for this age group provided that the program is properly designed and competently supervised. (2) Generally speaking, if children are ready for participation in organized sports or activities -- such as Little League baseball, soccer, or gymnastics-- then they are ready for some type of strength training. (2) Properly designed and competently supervised youth strength training programs may not only increase the muscular strength of children and adolescents, but may also enhance motor fitness skills (e.g., sprinting and jumping) and sports performance. Preliminary evidence suggests that youth strength training may also decrease the incidence of some sport injuries by increasing the strength of tendons, ligaments and bone. (2) Although the issue of childhood obesity is complex, youth strength training programs may also play an important role in effective weight loss strategies. (2)
Slide 8: tOgetheR, we Can Re-Build the healthy Child!
Plan more home cooked meals. Encourage our children to eat a healthy breakfast. Limit TV/video game time. Get our kids to play more outside instead of on a computer. Participate in exercise activities with them. i.e. biking, hiking, basketball, canoeing, swimming, after dinner walks etc. Avoid fast food chains. Get a family membership at your local health club. Make it fun!! Healthy children stand a much better chance of becoming healthy adults. We should all wish this for our kids. WE CAN DO THIS!
Slide 9: BiBliOgRaphy
(1) Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Flegal KM. High Body Mass Index for Age Among US Children and Adolescents, 2003-2006. JAMA. 2008;299(20):2401-2405. Childhood Obesity - DASH/HealthyYouth (2) By Dr. Avery D. Faigenbaum University of Massachusetts-Boston Youth Strength Training.
