2. Play
Being outdoors naturally inspires us to be active. An afternoon at the beach or a stroll after dinner are two options. Many adolescents enjoy the challenge of sports and noncompetitive group activities such as swimming or yoga. One family decided to “play” together by taking long walks near their home on some nights, and on weekends, taking hikes and camping trips.
3. Easy Does It.
For the less athletic among us, long runs, arduous hikes, competitive sports, or intense workouts at the gym can seem intimidating. And for overweight kids, vigorous endeavors can be unattainable and even unsafe, at least at first. Fortunately, light to moderate physical activity—if made a regular part of our lifestyles—is all that we need to increase self-confidence, improve fitness, and promote weight loss.
4. Sneak in Some Exercise.
Walk rather than drive wherever and whenever possible.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Ask your teen to help out with household chores that require physical activity, such as gardening or sweeping up.
Encourage your child to take five-minute “stand and stretch” breaks every thirty minutes.
5. Walk the Walk
When parents get active, it’s not only good for them; it’s also good for the kids. A number of studies have shown that physical activity habits are learned from the family. For example, researchers in France found that adolescents were almost twice as likely to participate in structured physical activities outside school if both parents practiced a sport. Conversely, teenage boys were twice as likely to be highly inactive if both parents watched TV more than two hours each day.
6. Food + Action = Success.
Despite its many benefits, physical activity alone rarely results in dramatic short-term weight loss. Although these pounds will add up over many months or years, the greatest benefits are achieved when the muscles and the mouth work together. To help your teen get the most from being active, fuel her body with a balanced, low-glycemic diet.
Betsy Whalen 10/08/07
I know that David Ludwig is right about food advertising getting kids to eat badly. A recent test of food wrapped in a fast-food container and the same food in a generic container showed that tiny children always pick the brand name. Imagine what our teens have been programmed to do! I don’t think, however, that it’s practical to suggest our kids have to do a physical exercise in front of the TV in order to watch it. And also, what should they be doing in front of the computer, which is just as sedentary?
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