Overweight and obesity are compromising the childhood of far too many young Americans and putting their future well-being at risk. It’s the topic du jour for good reason, though the focus perhaps skews toward nutrition while underplaying the role of physical activity and exercise. How, then, can we encourage children and adolescents to be more active? I’d like to suggest a few strategies and invite your thoughts.

Build on what works

One good place to start is by doing more of what is already working. We know from research and observation that when students are more physically active they learn more, behave better and earn higher grades. Physical Education classes are important, but are just part of the picture. Can we encourage kids to walk or bike to school, perhaps through “walking school bus” programs or bike lanes? In one study, third- and fourth-graders showed improved on-task behavior after their schools instituted 10-minute, daily periods of in-classroom physical activity.

Sports bring many benefits to those who participate. Some people—particularly children and adolescents with poor body image or who lack confidence—may be reluctant to join a team or league. One answer may be to increase opportunities for noncompetitive games. A quick Internet search will turn up a wealth of ideas for any age group.

High-tech fun

Another strategy gets to young people where they live: in constant contact, on line and gaming. Peer power and opinion leaders exert a pull on all of us, but never more than during our formative years. Why not harness that inexorable force and use it to promote physical activity? Imagine the cascade of Twitter tweets if the “cool kids” start spreading the word that they’re in the park, jogging or playing Ultimate Frisbee. What if a critical mass of Facebook status updates showed that “everyone” was hitting bike trails or trampolines after school?

Further harnessing technology for the cause; let’s not ignore the explosive popularity of video games. Wii Fit Baseball may not burn as many calories as the real thing, but it’s bound to be healthier in all respects than Cosmic Assassins III. Why not think of gift occasions as opportunities to promote active, healthy play with presents both high-tech and traditional? While a smart phone or cable TV subscription may be on the gift list, a gym membership or ball glove might spur a youngster to be a bit more active—and maybe even include the parents.

What strategies can you suggest to encourage children and adolescents to be more active?

The home and community environment can set the tone for a healthy lifestyle for children and adolescents. This is particularly true in the area of physical activity. Parents and caregivers can be role models in their levels of activity and also support community activities that encourage regular physical activity and make it fun.

To foster that notion, the Section on Pediatrics (SOP) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) recently hosted their first annual conference in Orlando, Florida. The conference provided 3 days of educational programming and networking focused on a lifespan approach from neonatal and infancy through the young adult, including fitness and sports participation within the community.

An exciting element of the conference was the coordinated participation in the Walk Disney World Marathon Weekend Events.

The SOP instituted a fitness challenge, “GOOFY FOR EXERCISE” which encouraged children and adults of all age groups and abilities to be “Goofy for Exercise!” The challenge went out to all SOP members and the community to train for a 5K, half marathon, or full marathon. Team Members (many who were first timers) met in Orlando the weekend of January 8 – 10, 2010 to participate in the event.

More than 50,000 runners (including their family and friends) passed through the SOP booth at the health fair to retrieve their race packets. As an exhibitor, the SOP provided fitness literature that included APTA’s Fit Teens and Fit Kids magazines and “Fit for Life” stuffed toy bears.

This event supported three key messages:

1. Being active can be a family affair and fun for adults and children alike,
2. Pediatric physical therapists can support children and their families by being good role models and ensuring opportunities for children and families to participate, and
3. Physical activity is important regardless of a persons’ abilities

Presently the SOP envisions “Goofy for Exercise” as an on-going campaign/training event, involving more families and coordinating with other small pediatric charity groups. We plan to identify several diverse fitness events and health fairs throughout the year to “encourage exercise for all.”

The SOP and the APTA also have a number of current and future resources for children and families that encompass all ability levels. These resources can be found at: http://www.pediatricapta.org/consumer-patient-information/index.cfm.

Potential Future “Goofy for Exercise Events” inlcude:

• September 3-5, 2010 Disneyland –Family Fun Run & Half Marathon Team; SOP Booth at Health Fair
• January 6-9, 2011 Walt Disney World - Family Fun Run & Events, Half & Full Marathon Team; SOP Booth at Health Fair
• September 2-4, 2011 Disneyland - Family Fun Run & Half Marathon Team; SOP Booth at Health Fair
• Web Link to training schedule
• Simultaneous races/events throughout country

We are on the way to more fun stuff!

“It’s Kind of Fun to Do the Impossible” Walt Disney

Do you plan on joining the SOP “Goofy for Exercise” Challenge at one of our planed events?

What event will you plan in your community to be “Goofy for Exercise?”

Written by guest blogger: Cindy Miles, PT, MEd, PCS

This week’s articles include a discussion on ‘fitness vs. fatness’ and a description of how a museum is being used to promote physical activity:

Can you be fat and fit?  More health experts say yes (Source:  NPR)  A cardiologist asks physicians to explore beyond BMI.

Children’s Museum’s exercise program promotes healthy living (Source:  Star News Online)  Children’s museum in Wilmington offers weekly physical activity classes.

Where do you stand on the fitness vs. fatness debate?  Weigh in below (pun intended).