Are Your Kids Active Enough?
The BHF has published a "Couch Kids" report which found that, despite initiatives from schools, communities and parents, kids are no more active today than they were a decade ago. And the number of overweight and obese kids continues to rise.
So how much exercise should kids be getting? The UK government recommends sixty minutes of physical activity a day (for children aged 5 - 18).
And how much exercise are they getting? The report founnd that just 11% of kids - around one in ten - managed the hour a day. And 15% of boys and 19% of girls weren't active for even half an hour each day.
(You can download a full copy of the report as a PDF.)
Sixty Minutes Physical Activity
The UK government recommends that kids' exercise should be "at least moderate intensity". The BHF report explains this means activities like:
Brisk walking, swimming, cycling, PE, dancing and
most sports
In the US, Canada and Australia, a similar amount of activity is recommended - and some of it should be at vigorous levels of intensity.
So if you want to help your kids reach that hour a day of activity, what can you do?
- If your child isn't naturally sporty, consider solo activities like swimming or trampolining.
- Teens might benefit from gym membership.
- Walking or cycling to school can often make up much of the 60 minute total.
- Encourage your kids to play outside - the report identified "unstructured play" as an important factor in kids being active
Finally, set a good example yourself! The report found that:
In households where both parents reported high levels of physical activity, children in all age and gender groups were also more likely to report higher levels than households with only one active parent
This effect was particularly pronounced in adolescent girls - a group who, the report found, tend to have very low activity levels.
Are your kids active enough? What activities do they - and you - enjoy?
We've got seven children, and after losing all my weight (150 lbs) I knew I really wanted to not only model good behavior for them, but also encourage them to stay active. They don't do organized sports but do enjoy lots of outdoor play time. They bike, they swim, they play ball, they scooter, etc.
And at this point, even my teenagers are slim and healthy. Great article!
ReplySome parents define "active" as "playing Wii for 20 minutes a day" and some define it as "2 hours of swimming practice, dance, and cheerleading". There's a slight discrepancy there.
I used to be a pretty sedentary teen, but I did always walk to school and I biked a lot during the summers. I tried to be somewhat active, but I usually was able to eat my way into being fat anyway.
ReplyWhy are you always quoting and citing studies by, for and about British people?
No offense, but Britain is a toilet. It's but a weak shadow of its former self. Its people are broken and unhealthy both physically and spiritually.
Reply