Furthermore, many children do not have safe and accessible play areas or bike paths to use in their communities, so they resort to more sedentary activities to stay preoccupied. Disadvantaged youth are also a target for obesity, as many cannot exercise outside because they live in unsafe neighborhoods. Lower-income families also consume more foods high in fat and sugar because they tend to be cheaper than more nutritious alternatives.

How can you help to prevent childhood obesity?

Teach Parents. Help parents to understand the health benefits of proper nutrition and exercise as a way to reduce the risk for obesity and obesity-related diseases in their children. Offer nutrition education classes for parents to learn about effective ways to include wholesome, healthy foods into their children’s diets without forbidding sweets and high-fat foods.1 Also, encourage parents to eat meals with their children as often as possible, as children who eat dinner with their families tend to eat healthier, consume more fruits and vegetables and less saturated fats, fried foods and sweets. The more often children eat meals with their parents, the healthier their eating patterns become.

In addition to nutrition programs, develop exercise programs that emphasize physical activity as fun rather than fitness, and offer a wide range of activities so children may find one that is most enjoyable for them. Exercise programs that include both parents and children will give them the opportunity to have fun and spend quality time together, while getting in shape at the same time.

Also, encourage parents to become more involved in their children’s activities and exercise regularly to serve as role models to promote fitness. In a national survey that included 660 men and women aged 18 to 34, more than half of all participants named their parents as the biggest roles models in encouraging them to be involved in sports and fitness. The younger the respondents, the more likely they were to cite their parents as role models.

Support Schools and Communities. Promote a commitment to lifelong fitness in local schools by advocating the restructuring of current physical education programs. While many schools have cut down on physical education to make room for academic classes and other extracurricular activities, other schools have redesigned their PE classes to encourage children to make a lifetime commitment to fitness. Research has shown that children who have positive experiences in physical education classes usually remain active in adulthood. A recent survey revealed that among respondents who reported being very active today, 66 percent had positive experiences in PE classes in high school, while only 27 percent of inactive respondents reported positive experiences.

Some high schools are introducing health clubs to students to encourage them to exercise. And so far, research suggests that students involved in some of these programs are less likely to be sedentary than students in traditional PE classes.

For example, in response to the staggering increase of obesity rates among children, the Naperville school district in Naperville, Ill., amended its physical education program 15 years ago. It was fed up with old PE programs that used boot-camp exercises, such as running laps and doing push-ups, that made exercise punishment and gave students a negative view of fitness. Today, students have fitness profiles that are included in their school records, which provide information on personal history of blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body fat percentage and cardiovascular performance dating back to the sixth grade. Phil Lawler, the district’s PE coordinator, set up the first fitness center solely through community support and without tax dollars. Since then, he has established fitness centers at five junior high schools in the district with computer trackers on all weight machines so kids can keep track of their progress. Students visit the fitness centers regularly to improve their health and physique, and boost their self-esteem and confidence.

The availability of a wide range of activities gives children the opportunity to find an activity that they find most enjoyable, and therefore, make a lifelong habit of exercise.6 Middle and high schools in Kansas implemented the Physical Dimensions program to get children more active through unconventional activities such as jump rope, Frisbee, hula-hoop and other games. The kids have fun and at the same time raise their heart rates and get a cardiovascular workout.

Your facility can offer similar activities that aim to increase activity levels, while making fitness fun for kids. In addition, by donating used equipment to schools, developing physical education programs, or offering free club memberships for local children (especially those who live in unsafe neighborhoods), you will promote the benefits of fitness to children and gain the respect of parents, school educators and members of your community, who may join your club based on your generosity.

Make a Difference in Your Community

Prevention is the key to reducing the number of obese children in America, so urge your community to educate children on the benefits of nutrition and fitness. By playing an active role, you can help parents, schools and communities give children a chance to live healthy, active lives.


 

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