We all say the world is getting lazier, and statistics prove that people engage in fewer exercise plans, and veer from optimum nutrition on a daily basis!  But the youth of the world need to be educated, they need to understand the implications of poor nutrition and less fitness training.  Take a look at the following stats, and you decide if we have a growing (no pun intended) problem...

  • More than a third of young people in grades 9-12 do not regularly engage in vigorous-intensity physical activity. Daily participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42% in 1991 to 32% in 2001 (CDC, 2002).
  • 15.3%of children ages 6 to 11 were overweight in 1999 and 2000, more than triple the average of 4.2 percent from 1963 to 1970.
  • In 2002, data showed that 15% of children and teens are considered overweight, a tripling since 1980. An additional 15% of kids and teens are considered "at risk" for becoming overweight.

Prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents ages 2-19 years, for selected years 1963-65 through 1999-2002

Age (years)1

NHANES
1963-65
1966-702

NHANES
1971-74

NHANES
1976-80

NHANES
1988-94

NHANES
1999-2000

 NHANES
2001-02		 NHANES
2003-04
2-5

-

5

5

7.2

 10.3 10.6 13.9
6-11

4.2

4

6.5

11.3

15.1

 16.3 18.8
12-19

4.6

6.1

5

10.5

14.8

 16.7 17.4


Pretty amazing, and pretty scary stuff!  Check out what happened to the 6-19 year olds during the 80's (introduction of the arcade game consoles!!!)...they almost doubled!  Okay, so what is the answer?

Personal training for everyone?  Well, that doesn't seem very realistic now does it?  So we need to educate the youth of America.  And when I say "we", I am talking to: personal training instructors, nutritionists, parents, teachers, aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers...you get the drift - We all play a part!   Here are a few tips to start changing the way your child may look at fitness training and meal planning:

Model good behavior yourself - engage in fitness training yourself, take meal planning for your family seriously, take the stairs instead of elevator, etc.

Have your child drink water instead of soda, juices, or milk - water is the ultimate drink and will supply your child with optimum nutrition and good habits they can take with them for a lifetime...the others offer some disguised version of sugar!

Encourage outdoor activity over the couch!  I think this one goes without saying...more active, more healthy, more fit!

Watch portion sizes - If your kids are active already, it may not be as much of an issue, but keep an eye on what they have on their plate and don't let them make an optimum nutrition "no-no" by creating a bad habit early!

Make Activity Fun - I have to tell you, in this age of technology, I am so happy to see video games merge with activity...have you seen the new Wii game console?  What a fun activity for the whole family, when you have to be inside...it is like fitness training in a box!  It doesn't replace an exercise plan, but it sure beats channel clicking!

I grew up playing sports, and I always attribute much of who I am today to what sports gave me...teamwork, self-confidence, working well under pressure, and countless other traits.  So when I saw the following quote, I really can't understand why we, as a society, are getting worse at the "fitness training and optimum nutrition" thing!?!?

"...physical activity has been associated with increased academic performance, self-concept, mood, and mental health, the promotion of physical activity and exercise may also improve quality of life."

Resolve To Evolve,
Bob Mathews
Your Online Personal Trainer
Phoenix, Arizona
Make Your Change Here


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