francene--blog. Year 2013
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Nov 20th

11/20/2013

 
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A global fitness study has shown that many children cannot run as fast as their parents could when they were young. The figures presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting suggest children's fitness levels are declining in Western countries. But some parts of Asia like South Korea, mainland China and Hong Kong are also seeing this phenomenon.

Researchers analyzed data spanning 46 years and involving more than 25 million children in 28 countries. On average, children today run a mile 90 seconds slower than did their counterparts 30 years ago.

Across nations, cardiovascular endurance—gauged by how far children can run in a set time—has dwindled consistently by about 5% every decade, according to the findings. The decline in endurance is seen in boys and girls and across all ages from nine to 17 years, and is linked to obesity, with some countries faring worse than others. In the UK, half of seven year olds don't get enough exercise according to research. Whilst nearly two out of three boys do an hour's physical activity a day, for girls it is around one in three.


Picturewww.ecommunity.com
To stay healthy, children and young people need to do at least an hour of physical activity every day. This can be walking or cycling to school and running in the playground. It can be done in small chunks rather than one session.

Prof Michael Gwitz of the American Heart Association stresses that the exercise needs to make a person or child sweat and should be sustained and dynamic to promote cardiovascular fitness. Simply going to the gym or belonging to a school sports team might not be enough without plenty of movement. Parents, schools and community groups can all help kids on their way to 60 minutes exercise a day.

So how can anyone motivate children to be active? School sports are vital. But parental input is crucial. Seven year olds today face more distractions, more incentives to sit, than any previous generation. For many of them, the computer tablet, apps or smart phones are a part of daily life. Sadly, many regard playing outside as a dull alternative to controlling a computer game.


Picturewww2.kirklees.gov.uk
Telling them that they need to exercise and be healthy doesn't work for the average primary or secondary school child.

Two things are crucial. First is making physical activity routine—part of daily life. Walking to school is one obvious example. Parents who set an example and do exercise tend to have more active children. The second is finding a sport or activity which engages the child.

The Change4Life campaign is aimed at encouraging people of all ages to lead healthier, more active lives. Its motto, "Eat well, move more, live longer", sums up the aim of the campaign. It already has half a million members.


Picturewww.nytimes.com
Using free apps and email messages Change4Life encourages children to take several small steps that will help lead to a permanent improvement in their health. This includes breaking down the perhaps daunting task of being active for at least 60 minutes into 10 minute chunks, plus suggestions for games which will tempt kids away from their screen.

In the Drop-Out 70s when my children were young, we had no such toys. We even gave up the television until the school required them to use it. When home in the country town of Robe, South Australia, they walked everywhere they needed to go, which included the swimming at the nearby beach, exercising at the playground and collecting firewood or wildflowers for our craft shop. Their father and I considered the possibility of a future apocalypse because of missiles pointed at all major cities in the world at that time. I made sure they would have every chance to survive if civilization should be destroyed.

What would happen to these unfit and unprepared children if a catastrophe, either natural or man-made, happened now?

See my co-written novels on the sidebar, where a young group of survivors in the future after the Great Flood form together to search for a way to save mankind. In the first of the Moonstone series, Wind Over Troubled Waters, sixteen-year-old Cerridwen loses her mother in a landslide.


Lisa Mallis link
11/19/2013 07:59:44 pm

Interesting how you transitioned from increasing movement to an apocalypse! Creative! One of my goals over the next 30 days is to increase my movement. I find I spend more and more and more time at my desk. Great article!

Francene Stanley link
11/19/2013 09:27:33 pm

Hehe. Glad you liked my adaptability. Yes, we need to break away from the desk if we're ever to increase fitness.

Sophie Bowns link
11/19/2013 08:05:46 pm

I hate running. I'd much rather go on a 5 mile powerwalk than complete a 2 mile run, I probably am unfit, but running hurts my joints, so I'd rather not run!

Francene Stanley link
11/19/2013 09:31:03 pm

A power walk is even better as long as you work up deep breaths while you're doing it. I'm lucky. I face a steep hill and back every day.

Alana link
11/20/2013 06:44:49 am

When I was growing up we had recess, my family did not have a car, and we walked or bicycled everywhere. I lived on the 4th floor of a 14 story apartment building in New York City and we children used to race each other to the top floor. My son? He had little recess (and the school was quick to cancel recess as a punishment) - and he id ride a bicycle - but there were so many more distractions for him - video games especially. Now, there are cell phones and the Internet. A losing battle for caring parents. I don't know if I would have done any better than my son in case of an apocalypse, even though I was in better shape. I had no skills for hunting or growing my own food, making my own tools, or my own shelter.

claudia krusch link
11/20/2013 09:14:40 am

Love your post! Being healthy is very important!


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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