The physical inactivity of Canadian children is now a serious health and social development issue.
"Childhood obesity is on the rise and research suggests inactivity is to blame."
Dr. Oded Bar-Or, Director of the Children's Exercise and Nutrition Centre at McMaster University, and Chair, The Foundation for Active Healthy Kids.
"Physical activity is proven to improve quality of life for children and is important in decreasing the risk of obesity, heart disease, depression, and a myriad of other health problems throughout their lives." Dr. Andrew Pipe, Honourary Chair of the Foundation for Active Healthy Kids and a doctor at the Ottawa Heart Institute.
Benefits
of physical activity
The benefits of physical activity are numerous and diverse. Physical activity reduces the risk of premature mortality in general, and of coronary heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, osteoporosis, obesity and diabetes mellitus. In addition, there are educational, psychosocial and financial benefits. Despite these benefits, just over one-third of children and youth meet the guidelines for optimal growth and healthy development. Children's habitual physical activity levels are low, and more important, these levels decline dramatically from childhood through adolescence. Childhood is an important time to lay the foundation for future health. Moreover, the habits of inactivity established in childhood will be carried into adulthood.
Barriers
that lead to physical inactivity
There are various constraints that prevent children and youth from participating in physical activity programs. Often cited as a barrier is lack of money. This can be on the part of the families, in the educational system, or in the community recreation departments. Aspects of the programs themselves that are barriers to participation include excessive focus on competition, the structure of the program, bias towards males, and the lack of youth input in the planning of the programs. Other barries to physical activity are lack of family support and the inability to obtain information on the programs.
The computer age
and television age has lead to the advent of the sedentary lifestyle.
On a positive note, television is a very powerful medium that can influence
our children and youth to get active.
