| Childhood obesity is an increasingly difficult | | | | day tasks. |
| problem. Action, if taken early, can change the | | | | Did you know ...? |
| outcome for obese children or even prevent it | | | | The worldwide increase in obesity is spreading to |
| happening in the first place. An appropriate | | | | areas of developing countries where there's easier |
| exercise problem is one tool that can alter the | | | | access to an over-processed diet and less need |
| outcome for such children | | | | to be active in daily lives |
| Changing your daily routine to include simple | | | | Swimming is an all round exercise that will keep |
| exercise like walking to school will be a worthwhile | | | | your child healthy. Also, as it is a low impact |
| start to any lifestyle change. Become a positive | | | | exercise it is good for children of all ages. |
| role model for your children and involve the whole | | | | Whether your child get's involved in water sports |
| family in the new healthier lifestyle. Your child | | | | or just swims up and down the lengths, they will |
| should take part in exercises that are fun, as well | | | | benefit from their trips to the pool. When done |
| as being appropriate for their age. It would be a | | | | regularly, swimming will build up your child's |
| good idea to see that they had a regular exercise | | | | endurance by increasing their cardio-vascular |
| schedule. By understanding the importance of | | | | fitness and muscle strength. They could make it |
| exercise in your child's wellbeing you can teach | | | | interesting by challenging their friends or simply |
| them healthy fitness habits that will stay with | | | | use swimming as a warm up to other types of |
| them for years to come. | | | | exercise. |
| The following is fact ...in the US one in three | | | | For younger children you may find that exercise |
| women and more than one in four men are | | | | equipment may only consist of a skipping rope in |
| obese | | | | the back garden. As your child gets older they |
| Exercise helps to regulate body fat so your child | | | | may benefit from other equipment such as a |
| will be less likely to become overweight. Blood | | | | treadmill, rowing machine or exercise bench. Try |
| pressure and cholesterol levels may also be | | | | to remember not to jump in feet first when |
| lowered and they are at a lesser risk of | | | | making your exercise equipment decisions. Take |
| developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. | | | | the time to find out which sport, if any, your child |
| Your child will also develop a leaner physique with | | | | is interested in and go from there. If your child |
| stronger muscles and bones. Being physically fit | | | | has no preference for a particular sport you may |
| and active also helps to improve your child's | | | | want to consider a bicycle, roller blades, a |
| sleeping habits and their mental agility in day to | | | | skateboard or maybe a trampoline. |