The lack of physical activity in children is a growing problem due to the percentage of kids who are affected by obesity, the sugary food diets, and the lack of participation in physical activity; however, children who are physically active tend to have better health, an easier time learning, and have a higher self confidence.
Obesity is determined by a formula called BMI and is calculated by dividing body weight by height squared. Childhood obesity is a BMI at or above twenty-five ("Combatting Childhood Obesity"). One in five children in the United States are overweight based on this measure; which is one-third of children age two to nineteen ("Documentary: Way Beyond Weight" ). There are many reasons why children in this country have obesity issues or are overweight.
The causes of obesity range from genetic factors to proper diet and exercise. Children can inherit certain weight problems from genetic factors and parents are a child’s first example of healthy lifestyle habits ("Preventing Obesity in Children, Causes of Child Obesity, and More." ). In a recent study of two hundred and fifty six children, Dr. Tucker, a professor and director of health promotion at Brigham Young University, found that “kids whose parents are more physically fit were themselves in better shape.” (Moving into the Future: National Standards for Physical Education). Children have unhealthy eating patterns, medical conditions, and a lack of physical activity. Children are hooked on sugary drinks and fast food. Fast food restaurants appeal to children with cute toys advertising super sized meal choices and sweet fruit drinks or sodas. Commercials urge children to eat junk food, which are cheaper and easier to access; toy advertisements and movi...
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Overweight and obesity are defined as excessive or abnormal weight gain that may impair ones health (World Health Organization (WHO), 2015). In 2014, about 13% of the world’s adult populations were obese (WHO, 2015). According to WHO (2015), 42 million children under the age of five were considered overweight or obese in 2013. Obesity more than doubled worldwide between 1980 and 2014 (WHO, 2015).
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Incontrovertible, physical education programs are getting more attention in the last few years. They are the key to increase teenager’s physical activity levels. Moreover, there are many benefits in the physical education than just having fun, it sharpen overall cognitive abilities and motor skills via athletics. However, what those classes are really trying to promote is the inclusion of a regular fitness activity in our daily routine. Meanwhile, regular fitness activities are “Active living” day-to-day activities, for example, treadmill walking, bike riding and basic daily activities; that is what our parents and ancestors have been doing for most of their lives. These kinds of activities are what our students are not engaging in; rather they are more likely to engage in sedentary activities from playing video games and watching television (The University of Waterloo, 2009). This will, in the long term, increase the risk of virulent diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, and even cancer. Despite all these facts, the physical education programs teaches many personal and social tools to the student, some of t...
Obesity is defined as excess body fat and is commonly measured by comparing weight and height. This process is not perfect and does not distinguish between fat and muscle. Measuring obesity in children is even less specific than for adults. Additionally, there are no set guidelines for defining severe obesity in children (Ogden, 2011). For children up to age 19 height and weight are plotted on a sex specific graph call the BMI-for-age 2000 CDC growth charts shown in the image to the right. Children between the 85th and 95th percentile are considered overweight while children above the 95th are obese. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2011), obesity among children and teens has tripled in the United States in the last generation to 12.5 million or 16.9% of the population ages 2-19 years old. For adults the rates are double those of children and adolescents at 73 million or 33.8%.
The American Medical Association defines overweight and obesity as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. To classify weight status the most commonly used parametric in adults is Body Mass Index (BMI) a measure of weight-for-height (weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) (Cawley, 2010) A BMI greater than or equal to twenty-five is considered overweight, and a BMI greater than or equal to thirty is considered obese. BMI is calculated differently in children because of body fat changes with age, and differs between girls and boys. BMI for children and teens is often called BMI-for-age. A child aged 2-20 in the 85th to 95th percentile is considered overweight; a child who falls into the 95th percentile and above is obese (CDC, 2013).
Participation in physical activity, can lead to a healthy lifestyle, for primary school students. Caspersen, Powell and Christenson (1985) define activity as “any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure… In daily life, [it] can be categorised into occupational, sports, conditioning, household or other activities”. Physical activity is directly related to a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle “is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (World Health Organisation, 1948). With healthy lifestyles rapidly decreasing (Fleeton, 2011), the demand for students to participate and be taught the importance of physical activity capturing bad habit before they arise. This essay will argue that physical activity, has a significantly positive effect on the lifestyle of primary school students by highlighting that physical activity improves physical fitness and behavioural skills, promotes fitness outside the classroom and impacts positively on classroom performance. Physical activity also positively impacts on students psychological and physiological factors.
Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. Obesity occurs when a child weighs above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Childhood obesity is a serious issue in the United States and around the world because the extra pounds may lead children to health problems. Overweight is defined as one have more body weight from fat, muscle, bone, or water for their height and obese is defined as someone who has too much body fat. In the article “Childhood Obesity Facts” the Centers for Disease Control explains that childhood obesity has tripled in the past three decades in the United States and is becoming an epidemic. The American Heart Association reported in the article “Overweight and Obesity” that 23.9 million children between the ages two to nineteen in the United States are overweight or obese.
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In the 20th century children played sports more often, walked to school and more. The children of the 21st century make choices that are completely opposite. The sports children play these days include watching television, playing games and eating junk food. Watching television and playing millions of videos games are excuses to help children avoid exercising.
In our society today one of the most difficult problems we are facing is the large numbers of obesity in our children. One of the major factors in that is this; our children have become less physically active. At an early age children start watching TV, learn how to operate a computer, and play video games. Having technological skills is now a necessity in all of our lives because everything has turned “computerized,” but the fact is that our children are relying on these types of entertainment rather than getting up and physically exercising to entertain them selves. This directly affects the large number of obese children in our country today because of the lack of physical exercise. It is not that we want our kids to look a certain way or to be better at sports than everyone else, but it is that we want our kids to be physically fit and to develop a healthy lifestyle. Physical exercise is not only for adults, it is for children as well, so we must understand the importance of our children exercising and the benefits from it. By doing that it will make an impact on that child for the rest of his/her life.
Physical education in schools improves children’s physical health. Getting the recommended amount of exercise can combat obesity. “Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions” (CDC.gov). PHIT America states,
“Children who exercise regularly have higher levels of self-esteem.” (Brown, W.J. & Brown P.R., 1996, p19). Teaching Physical Education can have immediate health benefits as it helps normalise body weight and body composition. Physical activity also promotes positive mental health. Both immediate outcomes may be useful in motivating physical activity practices so that they have long term benefits. One of the main benefits of physical activity is that “it keeps children involved and that it invariably makes you feel good.” (Brown, W.J. & Brown P.R., 1996, p19). Getting the correct amount of Physical activity in school hours will decrease the rates of obesity and will reduce the risk of diabetes, asthma, heart disease and other health related illness’. Regular exercise for children also helps their cardiovascular health and bone development. There is also evidence that Physical Activity has a positive effect on mental health in children, including reducing anxiety and depression and improving their mood. However, there is some evidence that for children who don’t enjoy Physical Education it can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and
Some activity clubs we provide include, dancing, running, jump roping, basketball and soccer clubs, just to name a few. These clubs encourage kids to stay active. Our PE program also sends out monthly newsletters to the parents that give them ways to help their child live a healthy lifestyle. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education states, “Regular physical activity improves functional status and limits disability during the middle and later adult years. Physical activity contributes to quality of life, psychological health, and the ability to meet physical work demands. Physical education can serve as a vehicle for helping students to develop the knowledge, attitudes, motor skills, behavioral skills, and confidence needed to adopt and maintain physically active lifestyles. The outcomes of a quality physical education program include the development of students’ physical competence, health-related fitness, self-esteem, and overall enjoyment of physical activity. These outcomes enable students to make informed decisions and choices about leading a physically active lifestyle. In early years children derive pleasure from movement sensations and experience challenge and joy as they sense a growing competence in their movement ability. Evidence suggests that the level of participation, the degree of skill, and the number of activities mastered as a child directly influences the extent to which children will continue to participate in physical activity as an