Motivation: A Key Factor

So quite possibly the hardest thing to do to teach kids to have an active lifestyle is motivating them to do so. This is especially difficult if they already enjoy a lifestyle of watching the TV, eating as much as they want to, etc. So I decided to look around and see what programs there are around that might help motivate kids to get out and be active.

One program that I've noticed lately has been the NFL Play 60 program. Maybe it's just because I was watching a lot of football, but regardless I think that this program has the potential to do a lot of good. Essentially it's a program that encourages kids to play every day for 60 min, which is the same amount of time in a football game. What better ways to encourage kids to be active then having people they idolize (aka NFL stars) encouraging them to get out there and play. Check out their website here.

Another program that has received a lot of attention is the "Let's Move" campaign initiated by Michelle Obama. In a fairly ambitious manner, she has stated, "We want to eliminate this problem of childhood obesity in a generation. We want to get that done." Her and President Obama's efforts include establishing a task force to fight childhood obesity, reauthorizing the Childhood Nutrition Act, and providing parental support and information. These are just a few of the things they are doing, check out their website letsmove.gov to see more info.

These are just a few of the programs out there. Although these are great programs with good intentions, ultimately they are only resources we can use to help the problem. Each of us has to do something to combat the problem, we can't rely on others to do to the work for us. So use one of these, use many of these, mix and match or come up with your own, but whatever you do let's make sure we do something.

Here are some other programs I found you might be interested in as well. Feel free to comment with others that I might have missed.
We Can
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Health Corps

A plug for parks

One easy yet effective proposal to help teach healthy lifestyles to our kids is to simply provide fun ways for them to be active. Our national parks are perfect ways to do this. Over President's Day Weekend I went to Zion National Park and was impressed by the opportunities that such parks provide. I've visited my share of national parks and I must say that all of them have done an absolutely amazing job in creating unique experiences for people of all ability levels. By no means did I do anything extremely intense while I was at Zions. However, the reward of seeing breathtaking views and scenery as well as the feeling of accomplishment that comes from completing a hike are memories that will continue with me throughout my life. I am persuaded that developing in our children a love for getting out and doing things is a major way to help them develop a healthy lifestyle.


One example I want to share is a little kid I met named Skyler. He is such a stud. The kid is only 3 years old and we met him while hiking up to one of the waterfalls. His parents had him on a harness (appropriate due to the type of terrain) and this kid was having a blast hiking the trail. I normally would think that a 3 year old is too young for something like that, but Skyler was all smiles and laughs climbing up rocks, jumping in the mud, and splashing in the water. I have no doubt that if his parents continue to take him on excursions like these, he will have an ingrained love for an active lifestyle. So kudos to Skyler's parents for opening my eyes to the wonderful opportunities made available for everyone at our national parks.


Check out nps.gov for more information about our national parks. Also check out this map to see just how close (literally only a few hours) we are here in Provo to so many parks. A great Saturday trip, enjoy!

(Not So) Surprising Statistics

So I know it's fairly well known but I thought I would put some stats to the whole obesity epidemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 percent of children (over 9 million) 6-19 years old are overweight or obese -- a number that has tripled since 1980. In addition to the 16 percent of children and teens ages 6 to 19 who were overweight in 1999-2002, another 15 percent were considered at risk of becoming overweight. ("Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 1999-2002"; Oct. 6, 2004)



However the real problems associated with this epidemic are the health problems that arise because of it. Again, according to the CDC:

* Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
* Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.
* Obese youth are more likely than youth of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults, and therefore more at risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

So overall it's a pretty serious issue. The point of this is not to scare anyone, just to help everyone realize that it is a real problem with very real, very dangerous effects. Whether combating an existing problem or preventing one from rising, teaching our children how to develop a healthy lifestyle is one of the best things we can do.