Topic: U.S. obesity epidemic now includes toddlers: Exercise may do what nutritionists and diets do not
According to recent research, many of the 15% of US children who are categorized as obese or overweight do not see any improvement even after treatment by endocrinologists and nutritionists. While there are many factors that may contribute to the problem, such as obese parents, high-calorie school lunches, etc., there is one solution exclusive of diet and medication that has been shown repeatedly to combat or help prevent many of the negative effects of obesity, such as hypertension, diabetes, fatigue, and more: Exercise. But most kids, even those with weight problems, aren't getting enough of it.
Adelphi University Professor Stephen Virgilio, an expert on children's health and physical fitness in schools, says that fewer than 1 in 4 kids in the fourth through 12th grades gets vigorous physical exercise each day. An author of several books on childhood fitness, Virgilio was a member of a task force that recently created the first-ever guidelines for physical activities for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The task force was convened by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
"Kids need to be active, but parents sometimes restrict them," says Virgilio. "They should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time." Yet, he notes, even infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers are being confined to strollers, playpens and cribs."
Virgilio is consulting with a SmartFun, a California-based company that is producing gym equipment for this young age group. The equipment includes a walking treadmill, stationary bike and weight training system. Some critics of this approach argue that very young children will get bored quickly with the repetitive nature of this kind of exercise, but Virgilio says it's a viable option among many.
"Certainly, we encourage parents to take their 2- and 3-year-olds on hikes, play ball and do other things that are age appropriate," says Virgilio. "But it's a myth that children cannot perform resistance exercises, and the sooner they get started the better; it will lead to a lifetime habit if done at an early age. Why wait until a kid has a weight problem to do something about it?" he asks.
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