Fitness and Childhood Obesity

Results Aren’t Guaranteed – They’re Earned Use It – Or Lose It! Dr. Michael England Professor of Education December , 2009

Televisions are on more than 7.5 hours a day in the typical home. The average American spends over 4 hours per day watching TV.

Technology Indoor activities, highly stimulating Entertainment

Technology / Urban Environments = Stress Disconnect from Nature

Depression Depressive Disorders 19 million American adults Leading cause of disability in the U.S. and worldwide

Surgeon General’s Report 21 percent of U.S. children ages nine to 17 have a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder associated with at least minimum impairment

In 1980, about 50 percent of high school seniors reported eating green vegetables “nearly every day or more.” By 2003, that figure had dropped to about 30 percent . ( YES Occasional Papers. Paper 3. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Institute for Social Research, May 2003)

Between 1977-78 and 2000-01, milk consumption decreased by 39 percent in children ages 6-11, while consumption of fruit juice rose 54 percent, fruit drink consumption rose 69 percent and consumption of carbonated soda rose 137 percent. (Cleveland L. U.S. Department of Agriculture; National Food Consumption Survey, 1977-78; What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001-02)

In 1970, about 25 percent of total food spending occurred in restaurants. By 1995, 40 percent of food dollars were spent away from home. (Paeratakul S, Ferdinand D, Champagne C, Ryan D, Bray G. Fast-food consumption among US adults and children. J Am Diet Assoc 2003:103:1332-8)

Between 1970 and 1980, the number of fast-food outlets in the United States increased from about 30,000 to 140,000, and sales increased by about 300 percent. In 2001, there were about 222,000 fast-food outlets. (Paeratakul S, Ferdinand D, Champagne C, Ryan D, Bray G. Fast-food consumption among US adults and children. J Am Diet Assoc 2003:103:1332-8)

Children eat nearly twice as many calories (770) at restaurants as they do during a meal at home (420). (Zoumas-Morse C, Rock CL, Sobo EJ, Neuhouser ML. Children’s patterns of macronutrient intake and associations with restaurant and home eating. J Am Diet Assoc 2001;101-923-5)

The typical American child spends about 44.5 hours per week using media outside of school. (Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year Olds. Menlo Park, Calif.: Kaiser Family Foundation, 2005)

In 1977-78, children ages 6-11 drank about four times as much milk as soda. In 2001-02, they drank about the same amounts of milk and soda. (Cleveland L. U.S. Department of Agriculture; National Food Consumption Survey, 1977-78; What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001-02)

At least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week is the recommended minimum. However, nearly 23 percent of children and nearly 40 percent of adults get no free-time physical activity at all. (Physical activity levels among children aged 9-13 years – United States, 2002. MMWR 2003;52[33]:785-8) and (National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 1999-2001)

In the same way that taking a once-a-day vitamin is beneficial, lifting weights and other kinds of strength training provide multiple benefits, according to the findings of many studies over the past several years. Here are the 10 top reasons to get started on a resistance strength-training program: 1. To build muscle strength. Adults lose between five and seven pounds of muscle every decade after age 20. Only strength training prevents muscle loss. 2. To improve functional strength and flexibility . This is important because it can help keep you safe in your daily activities and make you less vulnerable to falls or other injuries. 3. To increase bone mass and density . Weight-bearing and resistance exercises can help protect against osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break.

4. To lower body fat . Research in strength training has demonstrated a four-pound fat loss after three months of training, even though study participants increased their daily caloric intake by 15 percent, according to the American Fitness Professionals Association. 5. To reduce resting blood pressure . Strength training reduces resting blood pressure. 6. To reduce low back pain . Research has shown that strength training can increase low back strength and alleviate low back pain. 7. To reduce the pain of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis . Tufts University Diet and Nutrition Letter published a study on sensible strength training that reduced the pain of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

10. To improve your golf game . Believe it or not, strength training can improve golf performance by increasing club head speed and driving power. It can also help enhance other physical activities such as tennis and cycling. 8. To reduce symptoms of other chronic diseases . Strength training can help to reduce the symptoms of depression, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and sleep disorders. 9. To enhance your personal appearance . Improving your strength and your physique can also be a plus for your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Dec. 1, 2008 - Older adults who exercise regularly show increased cerebral blood flow and a greater number of small blood vessels in the brain, according to findings presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). "Our results show that exercise may reduce age-related changes in brain vasculature and blood flow."

Sept. 17, 2008 − A study using inactive overweight older people has found that those in an exercise program for four months became more fit and burned off more fat than those who only relied on a diet. The new study also showed that when older people diet without exercising, they lose more lean muscle compared to those who exercise, said senior researcher Bret H. Goodpaster.

Oct. 7, 2008 – Adults - even senior citizens – need two and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, which will return substantial health benefits, according to the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which were released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Regular exercise could reduce disability and death risk by increasing cardiovascular fitness , improving aerobic capacity , increased bone mass , lower levels of inflammatory markers , improved response to vaccinations and improved thinking, learning and memory functions. Eliza F. Chakravarty, M.D., M.S., and colleagues at Stanford University School of Medicine, Calif.

Using a Cane for Exercise & Self-Defense

We’re officially senior citizens as of Jan. 1, 2009

"No, from skipping." A blonde is terribly overweight, so her doctor puts her on a diet. "I want you to eat regularly for two days, then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for two weeks. The next time I see you, you'll have lost at least five pounds.“ When the blonde returns, she's lost nearly 20 pounds. "Why, that's amazing!" the doctor says. "Did you follow my instructions?“ The blonde nods. "I'll tell you, though, I thought I was going to drop dead that third day.“ "From hunger, you mean?" asked the doctor.

"What I hear, I forget. What I see I remember. What I do, I understand."

Fitness and Childhood Obesity

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