January is Family Fitness Month. This is especially appropriate at the start of the new year because many
adults and children gain unneeded weight during November and December starting with Thanksgiving and
continuing through the holidays that include Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukah.
Adding to the decline in fitness is the weather that keeps us indoor and reduces physical activity. So it's no
wonder that most New Year resolutions focus on losing weight and increasing activity as solutions to
regenerating our health and fitness.
The prevalence of obesity among pre-teen children more than doubled in the past two decades. The rate
among adolescents aged 12 to 19 more than tripled. Obesity is the result of caloric imbalance (too few
calories expended for the amount of calories consumed) and is mediated by genetics and health. Obese
youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as high cholesterol or high
blood pressure.
In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70 percent of obese children had at least one CVD risk
factor. In addition, children who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and
social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem. Obese young people are more
likely than children of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults, and therefore more at risk for
associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer,
and osteoarthritis.
Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese
and developing related diseases.
Learning Activity
Students should write a report of at least 100 words or a presentation of at least five slides that cites at
least three sources. Students should address the following essential questions for critical thinking (you can
substitute others):
What type of foods are the healthiest to eat and snack on?
What type of foods lead to obesity and should be avoided?
What types of exercise are the most effective and which would you choose and why?
How do your parents affect or motivate your healthy fitness lifestyle?
Pathfinder 1: Type "Family Fitness" in the Search box.
Pathfinder 2: Type "Childhood Obesity" in the Search box.
Use our custom ProQuest models for written or PowerPoint reports written and PowerPoint-style
reports.
