Excess Calories Not To Blame for Childhood Obesity

(CARLSBAD, CA) - While childhood obesity rates doubled from 1980 to 2000 (one in seven U.S. children is now obese), trends in total calorie consumption remained fairly consistent, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

So why are children here and in other developed countries, such as Sweden and Australia where similar trends are being reported, carrying more weight now as compared to 20 years ago? It’s simple: lack of physical activity. In 2000, only 29 percent of children and adolescents reported getting 30 minutes of physical activity every day. In 1980, 42 percent got a daily dose of exercise. Notable decreases in activity begin as early as grades one through three today and grow through adolescence, so it only follows that our children would experience a corresponding increase in weight.

Unfortunately, says Judi Sheppard Missett, Jazzercise CEO, the roots of adult overweight and obesity are often buried in childhood, so it’s critical to reverse the trend while children are young. However, children are basically at the mercy of their parents – both genetically and in terms of lifestyle habits that include diet and exercise.

Fortunately, parents can use their power and influence wisely to prevent and treat childhood obesity. It’s much easier to adopt healthy lifestyle habits that become a way of life when you are young, before ridicule and self-esteem issues make it increasingly harder.

Be a role model! Lead your children down a healthy road of sound nutrition and regular exercise. Learn about portion sizes and nutritional content, and share that information with your family. Prepare meals and snacks together. Likewise, exercise regularly and invite your children to come along.

Turn off the TV. And limit computer and video game time, too. Experts recommend no more than two hours a day in front of a screen or monitor.

Get involved in your children’s exercise activities. Introduce them to non-competitive, life-long activities like dance aerobics, hiking, rock climbing, yoga, cycling, weight training and jogging, especially if they don’t respond well to competitive sports. But pick activities that are age appropriate. Younger children favor activities that require short bursts of energy and limited structure.

Keep a family fitness diary. Track your workouts; including information about what you did, how long you did it, at what intensity and how everyone felt. It can be a marvelous motivational tool as you all witness your progress.

Fitness can be as easy as playing one of your children’s favorite CDs and letting them try out their favorite dance moves. The following rib isolation exercise warms up your waist muscles and goes great with dance music. Use it to add some style to your warm up as you work your waist, too!

Begin in a very wide stance, knees and toes turned out slightly. Shift your weight into your heels and bend your knees, allowing your hips to stick out behind you. Place your hands on your thighs for support, tighten your abs, lift your chest, and relax your shoulders. Keeping your lower body still, slide your ribcage right and left to the music. Try to move your ribs only, stretching the muscles between your ribs and hips for one or two sets of eight repetitions. If you’re having trouble, try facing a mirror as you do the exercise.

Jazzercise, created by Judi Sheppard Missett, is the world's leading dance-fitness program with more than 6,800 instructors teaching 30,000 classes weekly in the U.S. and around the globe. Since 1969, millions of people of all ages and fitness levels have reaped the benefits of this comprehensive program, designed to enhance cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility. For more information on Jazzercise go to jazzercise.com or call (800)FIT-IS-IT or (760)476-1750.

Courtesy of Jazzercise, Inc. - jazzercise.com