The formula is pretty straightforward: energy in/energy out. This is the term nutritionists use to describe the intended balance between calories consumed and calories burned. If the level of physical activity is not great enough to burn the amount of calories taken in, weight increases. If this imbalance continues, overweight and possibly obesity result.
Given our fondness for fast food (an ever-growing fondness, due to ever-busier lives) and our tendency to "supersize," it's easy to imagine that caloric intake is the crux of the obesity problem. And certainly it is part of the problem, especially considering the quality of the calories consumed. (Recent evidence indicates that children get a full quarter of their vegetable servings in the form of potato chips and French fries!) But the greater problem lies with the second half of the equation: energy out.
Studies both here and abroad have indicated this is true. The Framingham Children's Study, for example, found that preschool children with low levels of physical activity gained significantly more subcutaneous (beneath the skin) fat than did more active children. In another study it was determined that inactive preschoolers were 3.8 times more likely than active preschoolers to have increased triceps skinfold thickness (the best measure of obesity in children) in follow-up assessments. It's also been found that children who watch more than five hours of television a day are almost five times more likely to be overweight than children who watch two hours or less ? with excessive TV viewing considered to contribute to 60 percent of the risk of obesity in children.
More specifically, in the United Kingdom, while the proportion of overweight or obese children remained the same between 1974 and 1984, there was a marked increase in the following decade. The research, reported in the British Medical Journal, determined the change was due not to increased energy (calorie) intake but rather to a decrease in energy output.
Studies in the United States have made the same determination. An increase in childhood obesity of 20 percent over the last decade (at least one in five American children is currently overweight) has occurred despite a decrease in overall fat consumption and little change in caloric intake.
According to the authors of a research article appearing in the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, there is one consistent observation that stands out among the studies of energy expenditure in young children. That unfortunate observation is that children under the age of seven seem to expend about 20 to 30 percent less energy in physical activity than the level recommended by the World Health Organization.
Sedentary children? Obese children? Unfit children? They're all a fact of life in today's society. The sad irony is that in today's society we're more "active" than ever ? in terms of "busyness," that is. Perhaps we should get busy becoming more active in the physical sense. Energy out is the key to maintaining an appropriate weight during childhood. As such, exercise (mostly in the form of active play) should be a natural part of the child's daily life ? a habit as common as brushing teeth.
Said Dr. Samuel Abbate, at a childhood obesity conference sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Health: "The consequences of denying the body exercise are just as severe as depriving it of food, water, or oxygen; it just takes longer to see the consequences."
Rae Pica is a children's physical activity specialist and the author of Your Active Child: How to Boost Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Development through Age-Appropriate Activity (McGraw-Hill, 2003). Rae speaks to parent and education groups throughout North America. You can visit her and read more articles at http://www.movingandlearning.com.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareDo your children have a McChildhood? Do they experience the... Read More
It's sometimes difficult to find ways to be involved with... Read More
"Before every action, ask yourself: Will this bring more monkeys... Read More
Here is a top secret to make your child genius... Read More
In elementary school it's pretty straightforward: bringing in cupcakes to... Read More
How should one look upon Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)... Read More
If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More
Researched through personal experience!Budget Your Money. Even if you are... Read More
Pool safety should be on the minds of every parent... Read More
Although, not a well publicized statistic, childhood obesity has more... Read More
Being a parent is a role that requires a large... Read More
There are millions of young children in this country who... Read More
Are you considering a car wash fundraiser for your group?... Read More
Parents of teenagers frequently ask what can be done to... Read More
Having been a parent educator and a PBS consultant for... Read More
Some people can concentrate on an assignment, to the exclusion... Read More
Spending quality time with your children doesn't need to cost... Read More
Peaceful Parenting? ideas are very different from other kinds of... Read More
Dear MomOn this day set aside to honour "Mother's" let... Read More
Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children... Read More
A common theme over the past 20 years has been... Read More
For most children, it is easy to learn to read... Read More
For first time parents choosing a swing set or outdoor... Read More
There are a few points about shyness in children which... Read More
Nanny 911 Interview with Montel WilliamsI saw an interview with... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..Single parenting has seemingly become an acceptable norm which is... Read More
School authorities often complain that classes are too large. They... Read More
School authorities continually claim that they want more parent cooperation... Read More
As the flurry of Back to School activities subside, parents... Read More
So you have just returned home from your third meeting... Read More
As a mom of 4 who's youngest child is about... Read More
(Isaiah 11:6 KJV) The wolf also shall dwell with the... Read More
Fall marks the beginning of many new things both for... Read More
Libraries offer more than books. They are places of learning... Read More
NY -- Strange as it may sound, bordom promotes happier,... Read More
Did you know that the school system is only able... Read More
The last decade has seen heightened interest in and awareness... Read More
This may come as a surprise, but many parents are... Read More
Lead is one of the most dangerous toxins a person... Read More
Imagine having no television for an entire season. Such was... Read More
"How many times do I have to tell you to... Read More
Even as a busy parent, I'm sure you've seen a... Read More
Some people can concentrate on an assignment, to the exclusion... Read More
Researched through personal experience!Budget Your Money. Even if you are... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want... Read More
This year alone, 1,600 teenagers aged 15 to 19 will... Read More
Q. I need your help with a question about my... Read More
It's that time again! Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Are you... Read More
In the movie, Finding Nemo, Nemo's father, Marlyn asks the... Read More
The main thing we noticed since having a baby is... Read More
Parenting |