Moving To Learn: The Benefits Of Childhood Obesity

Children are becoming more inactive as the years go on. Lack of exercise for children can have many negative effects on their developing bodies. Children are introduced to TV, computers, and video games at too early of an age. They begin to rely on technology as entertainment, rather than going outside to entertain themselves. It is important to want your child to be physically active, not to be better than others, but to adapt a healthy lifestyle to have a better outlook on life. Inactivity directly affects the large amount of overweight and obese children in our country. Society needs to do a better job at promoting and encouraging physical activity for children now in order for them to embrace a healthy lifestyle and understand the impact it will create on them for the rest of their lives. Children who do not get enough exercise have increased risk for many health problems. Their bodies are still developing, and they need the 60 minutes of physical activity recommended by the U.S. department of health. Pediatrician’s state that we have the highest rate of pediatric obesity in the country (More Than Child’s Play). In the article, Learning To Move, Moving To Learn: The Benefits of PE, Dr. Faigenbaum likens obesity to smoking. “If you saw a kid …show more content…
is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity is no longer considered an issue, it is an epidemic. Research indicates that most children with obesity are normally happy and confident (Phillips). However, main concerns associated with obesity revolve around health consequences. Obese children are more than likely to grow into obese adults, which puts them at high risk for diabetes, hypertension, and specific cancers. Childhood obesity causes short and long term risks, and it is considered a critical public health threat. Our population, specifically children, is gaining weight to a scary degree and alarming rate (Childhood Obesity