I must say, it's 5am in the morning and the first thing that's on my mind is, "What happened to my blog I just wrote 30 minutes ago? " Follow me at www.FitnessStudio108.com -108 Health and Fitness Blog for upcoming events and information.  For now, please help me and the Run For The Dream Commitee fight the epidemic of childhood obesity each day by educating  your children, parents, friends and family with information I will be constantly blogging about.  It's going to take consistency, commitment and determination on an individual basis to make an IMPACT to help CHANGE the growing problem with America's Youth.   Please share the facts below:

                      Child Obesity Facts at a Glance
  • According to federal data, the prevalence of overweight children in the U.S. has more than doubled among 6- to 11-year-olds, and more than tripled among 12- to 19-year-olds.

  • A 2008 report of California 5th-, 7th- and 9th-grade students found that more than 30 percent of them were overweight and up to 40 percent did not pass a cardiovascular fitness test.

  • An economic analysis for the state health department found that in 2000, physical inactivity, obesity and overweight cost California approximately $21.7 billion, including related medical care and lost productivity.

  • The same analysis estimated that 5 percent improvements in rates of physical activity and healthy weight over a five-year period could save California over $6 billion, and 10 percent improvements could result in about $13 billion in savings.

  • Research published in 2003  estimated the national cost associated with obesity at $78.5 billion.

  • A 2006 report found that per capita consumption of soft drinks in the U.S. increased by 500 percent during the last 50 years, and that the average serving size increased from 6.5 ounces, or 88 calories, in the 1950s to 20 ounces, or 266 calories, today.

  • That report also found that 72 percent of school districts surveyed in California allow fast food and beverage advertising on high school campuses.

  • Only 2 percent of adolescents interviewed in the California Teen Eating and Exercise and Nutrition Survey met all of the dietary recommendations. More than half reported eating no vegetables at all in a typical day.
Compiled by the Dr. Robert C. & Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health
 


Comments

Joey Joey link
12/09/2009 15:17

Annie, what do you think about interactive game consoles like Nintendo Wii for fitness?

Reply
Annie link
12/11/2009 14:19

Joey Joey,

In regards to your question about what I think about interactive game consoles like Nintendo Wii for fitness, I believe they are great!

As you know, we are in an era of video games and computers, in result of making our society as a whole "sedentary". In order for us to make a "change" we have to adapt to the current situation and compromise.

So, Wii Fitness is perfect. Our youth is so far off of "playing outside" and in to the latest and greatest technology that we learn to "adapt" and have come up with the best of both worlds. Being active while on the computer or playing video games.

Nintendo Wii has been genius with coming up with the Wii Fit and interactive games. Reality is we had to come up with a "game" that cost $300 dollars plus, just to allow our youth to understand that being active is fun. These Wii fit games just emphasize what they are capable of in the real world. (I.e. Sports)

I do agree that Nintendo Wii is great for fitness. It gives our youth "chances" to experience what the real world really does have to offer. If anything, it gives our youth hope. It gives us as adults hope that our kids will eventually go out, play sports and learn to interact with other kids. I think what we are really missing is human interaction.

In closing, if Nintendo Wii is what it takes to inspire our youth to get active. I'm all for it!

Reply



Leave a Reply