Exercise as Medicine: Part 8

jacky

Exercise as Medicine: Part 8

On Mar 03, 2011

Exercise Benefits for Teens and Kids
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It’s estimated that by the year 2015 nearly 24% of U.S. children and adolescents will be overweight or obese – a staggering statistic! Would you be surprised to know the potential exists to cut that number nearly in half with as little as 15 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day?
Numerous studies show that exercise will not only reap immediate physical dividends and long lasting benefits in children, but emotional ones as well. For example, one 15-year study tracking 3,993 boys and girls found that they lowered their risk of hypertension by 11% for every 1,500 calories they burned through weekly exercise. Another study involving nearly 12,000 adolescents showed that children whose parents encouraged exercise engaged in fewer instances of illegal drug use and violence, and were less likely to have low self-esteem.
We must act now to ensure the health and longevity of our youth! To help your children become more healthy, fit, and resilient encourage them to do something physically active every day. Challenge them to get in at least 10,000 steps every day, or find one day during the week to create a family fitness day where the entire family does something physically active together – remember, it could be as little as 15 minutes and still be beneficial. Most importantly, whatever physical activity is chosen has to be FUN! If you can make fitness fun for your kids, they will be even more likely to stick with it.
References:
1. Nelson MC, Gordon-Larsen P. Physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns are associated with selected adolescent health risk behaviors. Pediatrics. 2006;117(4):1281-90.
2. Ness AR, Leary SD, Mattocks C, et al. Objectively measured physical activity and fat mass in a large cohort of children. PLoS Med. 2007;4(3):e97.
3. Parker ED, Schmitz KH, Jacobs DR Jr, Dengel DR, Schreiner PJ. Physical activity in young adults and incident hypertension over 15 years of follow-up: the CARDIA study. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(4):703-9.

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