It's sometimes hard to get out children motivated to exercise. But here are some good reason why we should keep trying....And starting them early in life, growing up seeing that exercise is a way of life, something that is just done, is a good place to begin.
Some reasons why physical fitness is important
Medical and emotional problems that develop when a child is overweight will follow him or her through the teenage years and into adulthood.
Low self-esteem, depression, isolation, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, abnormal bone development, sleep apnea
It takes only a few extra pounds on a child to cause his clothes to feel uncomfortable, his movement to be restricted, and his enthusiasm for physical activity to plummet. When a child slows down, weight gain speeds up.
In some cases, children begin gaining unnecessary weight between the ages of 3 and 7 years.
As children grow and enter school, weight becomes a strong predictor of whether or not they will become overweight adults. In fact, 80% of overweight 12-year-olds will become overweight adults.
When a child spends the majority of his time in front of the television, at the computer, or even reading a book while sprawled on the couch, his muscles may begin to atrophy.
When children are 2 to 5 years old, they are developing large-muscle and small-muscle physical abilities and motor skills that are critical for the full success of the child's later fitness efforts. The skills he learns now provide the groundwork for later, more complex abilities.
Flexibility training (or stretching) is just as important as aerobics and strength training. Inflexible joints and muscles inhibit a child from participating in activities to his or her maximum potential. Inflexibility can lead to chronic muscle and joint disorders.
Overweight children are targets for early and systematic discrimination, not only by their peers but also by family members and society as a whole.
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