Exercise
Living a healthy lifestyle is more than just eating healthy, it also means being and living an active life. Activity and exercise can take the form of a large variety of different things. It is important for children to be exposed to physical activity. Exercise has many health benefits not only for children but for adults as well so activity can turn into a family event.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Physical Activity as:
any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally.
The WHO also suggests that regular moderate intensity physical activity – such as walking, cycling, or participating in sports – has significant benefits for health. For instance, it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression. Moreover adequate levels of physical activity will decrease the risk of a hip or vertebral fracture and help control weight. (World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/topics/physical_activity/en/)
In children and young people physical activity is particularly important to maintain energy balance and therefore a healthy bodyweight, for bone and muscoskeletal development, for reducing the risk of diabetes and hypertension, and for numerous psychological and social aspects. (Buttriss &Weichselbaum, 2011, P 296)
The level of physical activity, its frequency, duration, intensity, type and total amount, as well as the time spend sedentary have a major impact on health at all stages of life. There is concern that many children spend too much time undertaking sedentary activity. (Buttriss &Weichselbaum, 2011, P 312)
The Canadian Government Website helps to define and outline some of the health benefits associated with Physical Activity. Further details can be found here.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Physical Activity as:
any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally.
The WHO also suggests that regular moderate intensity physical activity – such as walking, cycling, or participating in sports – has significant benefits for health. For instance, it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression. Moreover adequate levels of physical activity will decrease the risk of a hip or vertebral fracture and help control weight. (World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/topics/physical_activity/en/)
In children and young people physical activity is particularly important to maintain energy balance and therefore a healthy bodyweight, for bone and muscoskeletal development, for reducing the risk of diabetes and hypertension, and for numerous psychological and social aspects. (Buttriss &Weichselbaum, 2011, P 296)
The level of physical activity, its frequency, duration, intensity, type and total amount, as well as the time spend sedentary have a major impact on health at all stages of life. There is concern that many children spend too much time undertaking sedentary activity. (Buttriss &Weichselbaum, 2011, P 312)
The Canadian Government Website helps to define and outline some of the health benefits associated with Physical Activity. Further details can be found here.
Lets Move!
Participaction
The link listed above is a great source for finding out more information on Canadian Guidelines for activity. The site also lists some great local initiatives and details examples of activities that people- children and adults- can take part in. This is a great first step if you are looking for what sorts of thing your child can get involved in. It is a good stepping stone as a way to familiarize yourself with the types of activity children need and the ways they can get it.
Currently children are not getting enough activity in a day and gym at school alone is not enough for children. There are other alternatives children should be involved in doing to reach the amount of activity needed or recommended.
Currently children are not getting enough activity in a day and gym at school alone is not enough for children. There are other alternatives children should be involved in doing to reach the amount of activity needed or recommended.