In 2013, one in five kids aged 12-17 reported a height and weight which classified them as either overweight or obese, according to a survey conducted by Statistics Canada.
Obviously there’s no single factor to blame for the astonishing rise in childhood obesity over the last 10 years: the rise of the technological age, poor knowledge/habits around food, and what we’re going to talk about today, confusion over just exactly how much exercise is required to create healthy, vibrant, energetic kids.
The reason I know that physical exercise (or lack thereof) is a big part of the problem is because according to a 2012 report, only 7% of Canadian children and youth are getting enough physical exercise.
Kids are made to move. A lot. The daily movement requirements for kids far exceed the amount of time allocated to them at lunch and recess during the day. The same 2012 report found that 46% of kids aged 6-11 get 3 hours or less of active play per week, including weekends.
Physical education classes are a great start, however they do not come close to meeting your child’s daily movement requirements. And the benefits of meeting those requirements don’t just stop at helping to maintain healthy weight. Regular, vigorous exercise stimulates growth, helps build stronger muscles, maintains healthy joints, and most importantly, is REQUIRED for optimal healthy neural development.
Regular physical activity outside of gym class has also been found to improve academic performance.
To demonstrate this point, a study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine found that students who took part in before and after school sports programs performed better in school when it came to attention, concentration and academic tasks.
So what should your kids be doing? Is all exercise good for kids? Should they avoid certain types of exercise until they’re older?
Discover the framework to put together the perfect exercise program (no matter what your age) at our next Move By Design Seminar.
Click HERE to register.
Dr. Michael Gibson has committed himself to helping others to live the best life possible. After graduating with a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario, he received his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree and Masters of Science in Chiropractic Sports Science from Life University. He is the co-creator of Life By Design, and co-owner of Synergy Wellness Group. His passion for empowering families runs deep. After experiencing the loss of his sister due to illness, Michael’s purpose became reaching and teaching as many as possible the foundational principles of an extraordinary life. Since that time, he has passionately pursued and been successful in living out his dream. He maintains a busy family chiropractic practice, a full speaking schedule, and finds time to implement the principles and practices of Life By Design in his own life.
