Changing Our Lifestyles To Combat Obesity
Last week, I was thrilled to see the U.S. take the top 2 positions in the women’s gymnastics all-around final at the Olympics. Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, who took gold and silver, are both amazing athletes who have been two of the top gymnasts in the country for the past few years. Both started the sport at age 3 - Nastia in the gym owned by her father, a former Olympic gold medalist himself, and Shawn’s parents enrolled her in tumbling classes because she “had way too much energy around the house.”
Based on what we know about childhood obesity rates in America, more children might be better off if their parents took actions like Shawn’s and enrolled their kids in sports classes. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which reflects data from 2003-2006 and is done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, reports that 32% of American children and adolescents aged 2-19 are overweight, and half of these - 16.3% of all children - are obese. This number has tripled since 1980.
A lazy lifestyle and poor eating habits are to blame. According to the Pediatrics Journal, nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food every day. Additionally, many kids don’t get nearly enough exercise. Over the years, state’s requirements for daily physical education in school have been reduced. And more than a third of 9th-12th graders don’t regularly engage in any kind of vigorous physical activity.
We must do something about this problem by encouraging better eating and exercise habits. If kids become involved with a sport and get used to eating healthy at an early age, there’s a better chance that they will continue these good exercise and diet habits through adulthood. The CDC says that 70% of overweight children will still be overweight as adults. It’s crucial, then, that parents help kids get into good habits at a young age. And hey, who knows - that 3 year old who has too much energy around the house may win an Olympic medal one day if pointed in the right direction.
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