Obesity and Physical Activity in Schools
Engaging in acts of physical activity from a young age is very important for both the mental and physical health of a child; the habits learnt in youth tend to continue onto adulthood thus having an effect on the prevalence of obesity and related illnesses in society. “Obesity is increasing steeply in Australia” ( Magarey, A. M., Daniels, L. A. and Boulton, T. J. 2001) “and almost 25% of children are affected” (Booth, Wake, Armstrong, Chey, Hesketh, and Mathur.2001). So why is physical activity so important for children and what age is instilling positive habits most beneficial? What roles do teachers of today play in addressing and preventing obesity in our children and what are effective strategies to do this?
The benefits of physical activity are vast and the habits instilled in children from a young age can determine the lifestyle they will lead as adults. An unfortunate common misconception is that it is easy to reverse the unhealthy lifestyle taught to children. Prevention however is better than a cure. It is never too early to start teaching a child positive behaviours and habits middle childhood (ages 6-10) children tend to be in a stage of development where they think very literally they will absorb everything you teach, do, and say and are incredibly influential. It is t this stage of development that their most likely to be taught healthy eating habits, develop exercise programs and have an interest in organised sports. “Young people will carry established healthy behaviours throughout their lives such as better eating habits and decreased likelihood of smoking” (Shilton, T. and Naughton, G. 2001). Through physical activity children of middle childhood develop healthy muscles, bones and joints; they develop a healthy heart and lungs and they also develop a higher neuromuscular awareness which influences their co-ordination, how they control movement and the development of fine and gross motor skills. Most obviously it enables them to maintain a
The benefits of physical activity are vast and the habits instilled in children from a young age can determine the lifestyle they will lead as adults. An unfortunate common misconception is that it is easy to reverse the unhealthy lifestyle taught to children. Prevention however is better than a cure. It is never too early to start teaching a child positive behaviours and habits middle childhood (ages 6-10) children tend to be in a stage of development where they think very literally they will absorb everything you teach, do, and say and are incredibly influential. It is t this stage of development that their most likely to be taught healthy eating habits, develop exercise programs and have an interest in organised sports. “Young people will carry established healthy behaviours throughout their lives such as better eating habits and decreased likelihood of smoking” (Shilton, T. and Naughton, G. 2001). Through physical activity children of middle childhood develop healthy muscles, bones and joints; they develop a healthy heart and lungs and they also develop a higher neuromuscular awareness which influences their co-ordination, how they control movement and the development of fine and gross motor skills. Most obviously it enables them to maintain a
References: Booth, M. L., Wake, M., Armstrong, T., Chey, T., Hesketh, K. and Mathur, S. (2001) The epidemiology of overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents, 1995–97. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 25, 162–169. McDevitt, T., & Ormrod, J.E., (2010) Child development and education (4th Ed.) New Jersey: Pearson Merill Prentice Hall. Neumark-Sztainer, D O’Dea, J. & Maloney, D. (2000) Preventing eating and body image problems in children and adolescents using the health promoting schools framework. Journal of School Health, 70(1), 18–21. Schwartz, M.B., Brownell, K.D. (2007). Actions Necessary to Prevent Childhood Obesity: Creating the Climate for Change. Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, 78-89.