Could it be an allergy?!

Last night late night TV star Jay Leno joked about people who are allergic to exercise. "Americans," he said, "are allergic to exercise." This came after an alarming statistic that only 6% of American children play outside on a weekly basis. All of us parents need to take this serious, and get our kids outside and moving; weekly, if not daily!

See the following article, courtesy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.

Exercise Necessary For Youth To Maintain Healthy Weight

As obesity in adults continues to climb in the United States, more children also are suffering from obesity than ever before due to a steady diet of sedentary living.

Obesity can lead to increased cases of type II diabetes and put children at risk of becoming obese adults or developing heart disease or cancer later in life.

However parents can help their children avoid obesity and all its attendant health problems by helping them break the sedentary lifestyle. Children need calories and nutrition for growth, but they also need to be active so they can burn off those calories.

Nationally, overweight children and adolescents account for about 15 percent of the child and youth population, up nearly 4 percent from the late 1980s and early 1990s, and a three-fold increase since the 1960s.

Parental help is key. Parents need to set an example by being active themselves and planning family activities such as an after-dinner walk or trip to the park rather than watching television or going to a movie.

Breaking the sedentary cycle is easier said than done in recent years. Youths surf the Internet, play video games and watch television for hours on end, often encouraged by parents who are happy to have the sedentary distractions to keep kids entertained, out of trouble and away from unsafe streets. However, parents still need to take responsibility for their children's activity level.

Parents can set limits on television and video game time and encourage children to be active by planning fun outside activities the whole family can enjoy. An active life is important for children not only physically, but mentally, helping them be creative, eliminate stress and think clearly.

SOURCE: Linda Boeckner, Ph.D., nutrition specialist, NU/IANR

http://douglas-sarpy.unl.edu/foods/20030...

On a lighter note; another piece of my selected studies project, a Healthy Living curriculum for middle school children, is wrapping up! After presenting my projects this coming Wednesday, and a research interview on Thursday, I will have the remaining 3 weeks to better enjoy my summer! As if we aren't already at the pool 3 days a week!?!