ChildHood Obesity
Preventing childhood obesity requires the whole family. Do you have an overweight child? If you are a parent of an overweight child struggling with obesity, we offer you some tips and suggestions to help your child get in shape, eat healthy, and get active. Children can’t change their exercise and eating habits by themselves. They need help and support of their families. Childhood obesity is usually caused by kids eating too much and exercising too little. So creating new family habits around healthy eating and increased physical activity can help a child lose weight and can also improve the health of all family members. Did you know that obesity is defined by many practitioners as 20% above normal weight? If your child should weigh around 100 pounds to be in the healthy range and he or she weighs 120 pounds, this is considered to be obese. Childhood obesity has become one of the most pressing health crises in the U.S. Following are some hard core facts: • 16 percent of children 6-19 years old are overweight or obese. A number that has tripled since 1980. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) • Over the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) • Obesity-associated annual hospital costs for children and youth more than tripled over two decades, rising from $35 million in 1979-1981 to $127 million in 1997-1999(Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance, 2005, Institute of Medicine) • According to a national study, 92 percent of elementary schools do not provide daily physical education classes for all students throughout the entire year. (School Health Policies and Programs Study. Journal of School Health 2001:71[7]) • Just 47 percent of middle/junior high schools and 26 percent of high schools require at least 3 years of physical education. (Pate, Small et all. 1995) • Physical activity has been associated with increased academic performance, self-concept, mood, and mental health, the promotion of physical activity and exercise may also improve quality of life. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). • Physical activity declines dramatically over the course of adolescence, and girls are significantly less likely than boys to participate regularly in vigorous physical activity (US Department of Health and Human Services). • Overweight adolescents have 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80 percent if one or more parents is overweight or obese. (US Department of Health and Human Services). • On average, people who are physically active outlive those who are inactive. (US Department of Health and Human Services). Child Obesity is troubling because the extra pounds often start kids on the path to health problems that were once mostly an adult problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. One of the best strategies to combat excess weight in your children is to improve the diet and exercise levels of your entire family. This helps protect the health of your children now and in the future.
How do you get your child started ?
It’s easy to start. We start by scheduling a for your child. We will give you a tour of our training facility (called a Dojo), educate you about our school, our staff and the programs we offer. You will have the chance to see if our program is right for you and your family. There is no cost or obligation for the evaluation lesson. Our tuition rates are reasonable, competitive and affordable. Call right away and we’ll show you how we can make a difference in the life of your family. It’s never been easier or less “risky” to find out whether the Martial Arts are really right for your family! Give us a call at 480-632-7833 to set up your first introductory class, ask for Sal, or complete the
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