Kids & Teens
Exercise Associated With “Smarter” Kids
Studies suggest that children who are physically active also perform better on exams and tend to experience fewer behavioral problems. A study published in Developmental Neuroscience (2010; 32 [3], 249–56) suggests that exercise also has a positive effect on brain structure. More specifically, cardiovascular fitness is positively associated with structure and function of the basal ganglia, a group of structures involved with voluntary movement and attention.
Educate the Parent, Empower the Young Athlete
If you’re fortunate enough to work with children and adolescents, you’ve likely fielded thousands of questions and concerns from parents regarding the safety and validity of organized physical training. Parents…
empowering kids to make healthy choices
Cranberries aren’t just for chutneys and turkeys. Try this delicious salad for something light and bright this new year! For the Vinaigrette 1 cup fresh or frozen and thawed cranberries 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 1 tablespoon (tbs) finely chopped shallot or green onion,
school-based intervention can help obese kids
A study reported in the June 27 online edition of The New England Journal of Medicine shows that school-based programs focusing on nutrition and exercise are successful at helping children who are most at risk for obesity.
Pilates: Tools for Teen Athletes
High-school sports participation is at an all-time high, with a reported 55.2% of students (more than 7.5 million) taking part in high-school athletics in 2008–2009 (National Federation of State High…
fun, engaging resources teach kids about food choices
Kids learn by example, right? Most are not getting food education in school, and with the family home-cooked meal becoming an anachronism in our fast-paced lives, where will they learn food rules for life—or at least get a framework for healthy eating habits?Carole Carson, author of From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction (Hound 2007), has gathered these free interactive kids’ nutrition resources to help teach kids the basics about nutrition. Pass them along to your clients as a handout, or post them on your facility walls.
Marks & Spencer Plus-Sized School Uniforms Sell Out
Demand always seems to beget supply. In the case of schoolchildren in the United Kingdom, that demand takes the form of plus-sized school uniforms. To meet the needs of the increasing number of overweight and obese UK children, retail giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) created plus-sized school uniforms designed for 3- to 16-year-olds. According to the Daily Mail’s MailOnline, the company stocks sizes of blazers and trousers for 4-year-olds that would normally be worn by 8-year-olds. Further, most available sizes in the “M&S Plus Fit” range sold out within 1 week.
IDEA Members Create WELLKIDS
IDEA members Tanya Colucci and Lance Breger are headed back to school. As part of their nonprofit foundation, Infinity Wellness, the inspiration-minded duo has developed an afterschool program for three disadvantaged Washington, DC, schools. “WELLKIDS comprises the five components of wellness: strength, aerobic conditioning, nutrition, flexibility and mind-body,” says Breger. They are testing two different programs: two schools will receive two 1-hour classes per week for 8 weeks; the third school will receive a single 1-hour meeting per week for 15 weeks.
The Socioeconomic Impact of Childhood Obesity
Fitness professionals understand the many health risks associated with childhood obesity. However, a study published in the July 7 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology (2010; 172 [5], 540–48) finds that health is just one part of the childhood obesity puzzle. The 22-year study tracked 5,000 high-school graduates, divided into two groups. One group consisted of previously “normal-weight” individuals who gained weight gradually over time; the members of the other group had been chronically overweight since graduation.
IDEA Member Urges Kids to “Tri Harder”
According to the Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, 2008, engagement in outdoor activities by youths aged 6–17 dropped 11% in 2007 over the previous year. The National Wildlife Federation states that American children spend 53 hours per week plugged into electronic media. IDEA member Rosemary Hohl wants to change that.
excess calories may be main culprit for kids’ obesity
Tackling a chicken-and-egg-type question that researchers are divided on, a study that first appeared June 23 in the online version of Archives of Disease in Childhood has concluded that fatness leads to inactivity, but inactivity does not lead to fatness in children.
make food fun for kids
Junk food marketers are successful with children because they make food fun and approachable. Why not use the same tactics to make healthy foods just as pleasing? A few years back, a study by Just Kid Inc. pinpointed a few common characteristics that kids identify as fun when it comes to food. Try these approaches with 6- to 12-year-olds and see if you get any added enthusiasm when serving up healthy fare that is not processed and packaged. Finger Foods. Children are tactile and like to be literally hands-on with their food. Dipping and Scooping.
Training a Teenage Girl
Client: Paulina Personal Trainer: Hayley Hollander, co-owner, Advanced Training Performance Location: Las Vegas
Government Agency Helps Parents Find Safe Playgrounds
Some gymnasiums and playgrounds may pose dangers to children. Now, a free service is available to help parents and teachers lobby for safer conditions. Last year, researchers and physical and…
Way Beyond
Childhood obesity is epidemic. Fortunately, prevention efforts are yielding some success, as reports indicate that rates may have leveled. This could be thanks in part to companies that use nontraditional tactics to tackle the issue. One such company, WayBeyond, is dedicated to bringing play back into fitness. “WayBeyond was designed with the idea that kids will play without knowing they’re exercising,” states Brian Blacher, vice president of program development. “Kids today don’t play, which is why we have so many issues today.
Cheerleading Most Dangerous Female Sport
Fitness professionals working with cheerleaders should be aware of some alarming statistics. According to the 26th annual Catastrophic Sports Injury Research report from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (www.unc.edu/depts/nccsi), cheerleading is the cause of more catastrophic and fatal injuries than any other female sport. The report stated that—between 1982 and 2008—112 high-school girls experienced catastrophic sports injuries. Of those, 73 were related to cheerleading.
are children of working moms more obese?
The percentage of moms greeting kids at home after school with a healthy snack and serving a hot-from-the-oven dinner after homework is quite small in this era. Stay-at-home motherhood is practically an unheard-of luxury as families try to make ends meet. But is the cost of mom working literally penny-wise and pound-foolish? Recent research suggests it could be.
The growing number of full-time working moms in the past few decades could be one of the factors contributing to the concurrent rise in childhood obesity, new research hints.
food network continues its commitment to families, healthy eating and fitness
The Food Network is working hard on behalf of kids and families—again. The network’s semiannual food and wine festivals (February in Miami and October in New York City) are indeed star-studded events, with the most famous celebrity chefs and some of the best food and wine on the planet. Even so, their affordable educational programming for kids and families continues expanding and growing more meaningful to keep pace with the rising incidence of childhood obesity.
Weight Control Behaviors in Female Adolescents
Little is known about the effectiveness of behavioral strategies to prevent long-term weight gain in female adolescents and young adults. That’s why researchers set out to assess the connection between diet and physical activity in weight-control strategies (alone and together)
and in subsequent weight gain.
PE, Not Boot Camps, Best for Kids
Intervention efforts such as “fat camps” or boot camps may not be best for overweight or obese kids, according to Deborah J. Rhea, associate professor at Texas Christian University in…