These days, bicycles, roller blades, and seaside holidays
can no longer compete with television, DVDs, Playstation,
and computers when it comes to a child’s attention
span. Sadly, children are spending longer and longer,
sedentary in front of LCD screens, and less and less time
doing any form of physical activity. As a result, they are
weighing more and more and child obesity is now actually
something to be concerned about.
Prior to the digital age, children were forced to go out
and play, unknowingly engaging in physical activity and
oblivious to their body’s burning off of any unwanted
calories. Full of energy, kissed by the sun, and eager to
use their imagination, children played games of
make-believe for hours on end with their friends, loathe to
come in of an evening, to eat dinner with the family.
Compare that scenario to the lives of children today and
there is a stark difference. Children nowadays are
lethargic from excessive amounts of junk food eaten between
meals. They spend hours upon hours watching television, and
more often than not, eat their breakfast, lunch, or dinner
in front of it – along with the rest of the family at
various times that rarely coincide.
A child on a mission to achieve a certain level or score on
a Playstation can sit glued to the screen for hours on end,
hardly moving or speaking except to let out a cry of
anguish or victory depending on how their game is
progressing, their only source of physical activity being
to move a joystick and press buttons repeatedly.
Children nowadays avoid physical activity to such an extent
that they expect to be driven everywhere rather than walk
or to pick up the telephone rather than visit someone to
talk with them.
However the blame really shouldn’t be placed on the
children. It is the parents who are at fault, and to a
certain extent, society in general. Life is faster now and
in direct proportion the faster it gets, the less physical
activity children do.
Before, working mothers were in the minority, however,
nowadays most parents work – both mothers and fathers
- resulting in the need for a more convenient lifestyle.
Kids are sat down to watch a DVD in order to keep them
quiet whilst their puzzles, games, and books, remain tucked
carefully away in the cupboard.
The growing intensity of school curricula and lack of time
for sport within school hours has only added to this
problem, with nearly three-quarters of British teenagers
attending school doing less than two hours’ physical
activity a week!
Given that physical activity not only keeps obesity at bay
but generates a healthy and happy attitude, it’s
surprising that more schools have not tried to harness the
positive influence of physical activity within their
educational programme. Unfortunately, usually physical
activity takes a back seat to other subjects regarded as
more important.
Outside of schools, in public areas, many parks have been
vandalized so that their swings are broken, wooden seats
upturned, and obscene language painted on any open space.
So it’s no wonder that children no longer have the
urge to play there.
Luckily, some forms of physical activity still hold a
modicum of interest with the younger generation such as
swimming in the sea. The question is, is it enough to stop
obesity becoming more of a worry than ever before?
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Get in touch with the industry experts at
http://www.weightlossfatburnersecrets.com for more help.
Steve Magill has written several articles with regard to
the weightloss business. As a Fellow in the (FBAE) he is
considered an expert consultant when it comes to helping
people to lose weight.
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