By Stacy DeBroff 

Obesity has emerged as a serious and growing childhood disease. The
statistics are both astonishing and alarming: we are raising a generation of
couch potatoes. Between the passive entertainment of electronics and the
junk and fast food readily accessible to our children, 1 out of every 4
children will struggle with childhood obesity.

~ According to the Academy of Pediatrics, only 2% of the 18 million school
children taking the President’s Physical Fitness Test were physically fit
enough to receive the award. Fitness tests given recently in California
found only 1 in 5 students (grades 5, 7, and 9) met their fitness standards
for cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance,
flexibility, and body composition.

~ A recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that 70% of
kids are out of shape while 90% of parents are convinced that their child is
fit.

~ More than 50% of girls and 25% of boys ages 6-17 cannot run a mile faster
than a walking pace. 70% of girls in this same age group cannot do more than
one pull-up, and 55% of the boys cannot even do one pull-up.

~Childhood obesity is generally caused by lack of physical activity and poor
eating habits, although genetics and lifestyle both play important roles.
Today’s world of fast food and sedentary pastimes does little to encourage
physical activity and healthy eating.

~ Encourage your child to be physically active in some way every day. Select
fun activities that allow your child to support her body weight and keep her
moving.

~ If you don’t exercise, you’ll likely have a hard time motivating your
child to stay fit.

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