Get Your Kids off the Couch and Exercising
Courtesy Children's Specialized Hospital

Overweight kids often become overweight adults. And obesity in adulthood leads to health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes.

Reduced physical activity is partly to blame for obesity in kids. Fewer than half of children engage in routine physical activity and only about a third of schools nationwide offer daily physical education classes. Too many kids spend too much time watching TV.

Sound nutrition, exercise, and behavior modification are the best ways to fight childhood obesity.

How to start on a path to fitness? Before participating in any new exercise program or sports-related activity, children should receive a complete physical exam by a physician for overall health and flexibility ‘to determine their physical abilities.

Then, start gently with fun activities, such as walking, biking, running, skating or hiking. These are excellent ways for your child to start being active. Instead of driving to the store, walk or bike with your kids, especially if you only have a few things to pick up. Any activity that the entire family can participate in makes for
a great opportunity for family bonding, not to mention the added benefit of exercise for everyone.

Team sports, like soccer, basketball, volleyball or baseball, are good if your child wants to exercise in a group. These sports ice a child an opportunity to exercise as well as encourage her to work well wih others to meet common goals.

If your child has a favorite show she must watch, put the treadmill or stationary bike in front of the television to use while she watches.

A cautionary note: There are nutritional considerations unique to children as they start being more active. Active kids need protein and calcium for growth and bone development, as well as electrolytes and fluids to sustain their high-energy requirements. Remember: Younger children fatigue sooner than adolescents or adults, and a child’s activity must be modified to prevent injury.

Parental involvement in an activity is not only a great way to bond with your kids, but stav active yourself. And we all need to do that. So lace up and go!

Dr. Monica Arnold is a pediatric and adolescent sports medicine expert at Pediatric Orthopedic Associates of East Brunswick, NJ.