How active are adults?
Government research has concluded that one
quarter of U.S. adults aren’t active at all
in their leisure time.
More than half these adults don’t get the
kind of physical activity that actually helps
health, walking fast enough to raise the
heart rate for example.
Another startling statistic: More than 60 million adults are obese.
Another startling statistic: More than 60 million adults are obese.
How healthy are our children?
Experts are beginning to conclude that
we are a nation that is raising a generation
of children who may turn out to be less
healthy than their parents. About a third are
overweight and 16% are
obese.
So if you have a young child, you may not see this as a problem since young children are naturally active when given the chance. However, our schools are decreasing the amount of recess and gym time. By high school, one recent study found, fewer than a third of teens are getting an hour of activity a day.
So if you have a young child, you may not see this as a problem since young children are naturally active when given the chance. However, our schools are decreasing the amount of recess and gym time. By high school, one recent study found, fewer than a third of teens are getting an hour of activity a day.
Physical Guidelines
It’s very important for our health and wellness that we find ways to include physical activity on a regular basis in all our lives. Check out this resource for guidelines about fitting physical activities into the daily routines for your children and adolescents. You may also find this Fact Sheet for Parents helpful.
Three types of physical activity are strongly recommended for children and adolescents each week:
Children should be encouraged to spend at least 60 minutes daily engaged in physical activity. Most of that activity should be aerobic activities such as walking, or running. Especially encourage them to spend at least 3 days a week doing aerobic activities that cause their hearts to pound and make them breathe fast.
Three types of physical activity are strongly recommended for children and adolescents each week:
1. Aerobic Activity
Children should be encouraged to spend at least 60 minutes daily engaged in physical activity. Most of that activity should be aerobic activities such as walking, or running. Especially encourage them to spend at least 3 days a week doing aerobic activities that cause their hearts to pound and make them breathe fast.
2. Muscle-Strengthening
Climbing, doing push-ups or other muscle-strengthening activities should be part of your child’s daily exercise routine at least 3 days per week.3. Bone-Strengthening
At least 3 days per week try to include bone-strengthening activities, such as jumping or running, as part of your child’s daily exercise routine
Some is better than nothing!
Experts continue to tell us that regular
physical activity over months and years
produces long-term health benefits and
reduces the risk of many diseases.
The more physically active you are, the more
health benefits you gain.
Regular physical activity reduces the risk in adults of early death; coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression. Added benefits are certainly that it can improve thinking ability in older adults and the ability to engage in activities needed for daily living.
"Get active your way," former HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt told The Associated Press. It’s really okay to just start slowly. If we haven’t been doing any exercise, even getting 10 minutes a day will help us as we get started and work up to the amount that is recommended for our age group. It's OK to start slowly. As Rear Adm. Penelope Royall, deputy assistant secretary for disease prevention is quoted as saying,
“Some is better than nothing, and more is better!”
Regular physical activity reduces the risk in adults of early death; coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression. Added benefits are certainly that it can improve thinking ability in older adults and the ability to engage in activities needed for daily living.
"Get active your way," former HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt told The Associated Press. It’s really okay to just start slowly. If we haven’t been doing any exercise, even getting 10 minutes a day will help us as we get started and work up to the amount that is recommended for our age group. It's OK to start slowly. As Rear Adm. Penelope Royall, deputy assistant secretary for disease prevention is quoted as saying,
“Some is better than nothing, and more is better!”
Ideas to Get Moving
For some ideas in how to get your kids
moving, check out the Move Your Way website:
https://health.gov/moveyourway/get-kids-active
For more ideas see the website Healthy Hearts. Here you can find activities on the Kid’s Page of website:
http://www.healthyhearts4kids.org/intro/student/fun/paweek.asp
Exercise is important for you, too! Check out these sites for more ideas as to how to get up and moving. Especially notice the benefits you are going to receive for both your body and mind. CLICK HERE
For more ideas see the website Healthy Hearts. Here you can find activities on the Kid’s Page of website:
http://www.healthyhearts4kids.org/intro/student/fun/paweek.asp
Exercise is important for you, too! Check out these sites for more ideas as to how to get up and moving. Especially notice the benefits you are going to receive for both your body and mind. CLICK HERE
