As Halloween approaches and the weather begins to cool off we will be able to enjoy working out outdoors once again. We will also be able to allow our children to play outside without having to worry about the excessive heat. With October being National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, we should encourage our children to become more active in turn developing into part of their daily activity.
In a recent study it showed that 12.5 million children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 19 were considered obese. With these kind of numbers it puts children are on a high-risk trajectory for coronary artery disease by their 30′s and 40′s, not to mention all of the other health risks like diabetes and certain types of cancers. As parents we need to be concerned about these numbers and start encouraging activity.
What ever happened to kids playing outside? Building forts, playing tag and being involved in other sports was a natural part of growing up. The times have definitely changed and our children have been introduced to a society that has made things simpler on them reducing the necessary daily exercise. We must also practice good eating habits and not allow our children to overeat or eat whatever they choose.
By making simple changes in our children’s life it will increase their life expectancy and reduce their chances of coming down with disease. As parents we should start leading by example and teach our children that exercise and eating healthy is fun and not a chore. We can also begin to encourage our children to play sports. Furthermore, Ultima Fitness offers Tae Kwon Do to children which is one way for gym members and their children to become involved in exercise. The time to make the change is now, no excuses. Let’s change our children’s future today!
