Curb obesity: That's what it's all about

Nashville City Paper Online

November 10, 2004

It turns out that doing the hokey pokey can turn yourself around.

A new study has found that preschool children aren't getting enough exercise and that could be contributing to later obesity.

The study, done with a grant by Gerber in preschools in Columbia, S.C., found that most children weren't even getting half the recommended two hours a day of active playtime.

The children wore devices that measured their activity for about four and a half hours a day.

Among the findings:
  • The children did only an average of 7.7 minutes an hour of moderate to vigorous activity.
  • Boys were more active than girls.
  • As the children got older, they participated less in physical activity.

    It's important for children to have unstructured playtime, but it's also important to provide structured activity, such as dancing the hokey pokey.

    Children also need to play outside. Outside play almost automatically stimulates physical activity.

    The trend toward obesity is reaching down alarmingly to the young. An astonishing 10 percent of kids ages 2-5 are already overweight.

    As more and more families have two-parent incomes, more children spend their days in preschool.

    The beehive of activity we all remember from our childhoods may not be present today. Many preschools are focused on helping children get ready for kindergarten by developing their early reading and math skills. They may be less concerned with whether the children are physically active.

    Parents and preschool teachers alike need to take note of this study and be sure that the young children in their care are learning good physical education habits.

    Physical education is a lifelong habit that needs to be developed throughout a child's school experience.

    Children should develop a lifetime hobby early that involves physical activity.

    Studies have shown that physical activity for children translates into better academic performance and increased socialization skills.

    If children as young as ages 3 or 4 aren't getting enough physical activity, the trend toward obesity will get even worse.

    So get your children out there doing the hokey pokey so we can turn this epidemic problem around.
 

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