(Active, Healthy Kids Part 1 by Colin Thomas, pediatric registered nurse practitioner at Keystone Pediatrics, first appeared in a June 2014
edition of the Public Opinion Newspaper. Click here to read it at www.publicopiniononline.com.)
In this first of a two part series, Colin Thomas, pediatric certified registered nurse practitioner at Keystone Pediatrics, says activity is vital to your child’s health and your health. Here are some reasons why activity is important and what you can do to get on the road to an active, healthy life.
Why is activity important?
Physical activity is important in childhood because it sets the stage for healthy living as a teenager, adult and older adult. The behaviors and habits you start at a young age usually follow you throughout your lifetime. By being active, you reduce your risk for high cholesterol, heart disease, obesity, fatty liver, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
Healthy Habits
Activity simply makes us feel better. It helps elevate mood, decreases depression symptoms and helps with self-esteem as well. There’s a lot of literature that says a habit is formed after only three weeks so a good habit or bad habit can develop quickly. Start a new habit today of going outside and taking a walk. In three weeks, you’ll find you’ll actually enjoy the time.
Exercise Prescription
The American Academy of Pediatrics along with the American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 60 minutes a day of physical, active play for children 2 years and older. It doesn’t have to be exercise but just moving and getting active for a minimum of an hour a day. The more you play, the better you will feel and then we start that healthy living cycle.
Barriers to Health
Excuses and setting unrealistic expectations are the biggest barriers to physical activity. Everyone has an excuse of why they can’t do something, “I don’t have time, or money or I don’t know what to do”. Setting unrealistic expectations like we’re going to be outside all day or I’m going to lose 20 pounds in a month just leads to you beating yourself up when you don’t reach them.
Baby Steps
Focus on baby steps. A healthy action is something that will contribute to you adopting and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. Find three to five realistic actions that you can take and focus on implementing one of them each week. As each week passes, you will add a new action. Need some ideas to get moving? Visit http://www.letsmove.gov/active-families for ideas on healthy actions.
Please note : This article contains general information only and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment or care by a qualified health care provider.