Lifestyle: High School Students Aren't Very Active - Surprised?

A new report from the CDC, "Physical Activity Levels of High School Students -- United States, 2010," confirms what just about every other study has ever said that has looked at exercise levels in kids - they aren't active enough. They don't enjoy team sports like football or basketball anymore where they have to socialize and work together as a unit. This new generation seems to be anti-sport.

For this report, the CDC analyzed data from the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study (NYPANS), which included information about over 11,000 high school students.
The study found that:

•15% of high school students participated in aerobic physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day.
•51% of high school students did muscle-strengthening activities at least three days a week.
•12% of high school students both participated in aerobic physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day and did muscle-strengthening activities at least three days a week.

This is below the Healthy People 2020 target that 20.2% of kids participate in aerobic physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day.

Although many people question the need for another report telling us that our kids don't exercise enough, the report does add some good recommendations to remedy the problem, including:

•Enhancing school-based PE programs by increasing the length of classes or activity levels in PE classes.
•Creation of or enhanced access to places for physical activity combined with informational outreach activities about their location and availability.
•A multi-sector approach to increase physical activity levels involving schools, communities, families, and the private sector.

Of course, getting kids active is not something that should wait until high school though.
The younger you start getting kids interested in being physically active, the more likely they will continue as they get older, even into adulthood.

A great way to get young kids active and healthy is enrolling them in a martial arts class (or sports team) which is usually only once or twice a week.

This will not only keep them physically fit but will also teach them mental discipline. As they increase in the ranks they will gain self-confidence, team-building and social skills, self awareness, respect for others and an activity to look forward to every week.

I myself started karate at the age of 4 and still do it 20 years later, so your kid can have a life-long hobby too. But it’s up to you parents to push your kids in the right direction. Trust me, they will thank you later.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) said:

"It is a child's right that his father should teach him to read, write, swim and the art of archery and should provide him pure and lawful sustenance."




The Ahmadiyya Post, Lifestyle. By Zubair Ahmed. Oct 18, 2011