Childhood obesity is an epidemic in America. More than 12 million American children — or one out of every six children — is obese. Obesity is determined by looking at a child’s body mass index (BMI), which measures body fat based on weight and height. Childhood obesity is defined as having a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and gender. Children are at risk of becoming obese if they:
Other factors, like a fear of a child’s safety, prevent parents from allowing their children to get outside and move around. Some children live in areas where there are few safe places to play.
How has the obesity epidemic reached so many children in America? Here are more alarming childhood obesity and exercise statistics to illustrate the seriousness of the issue:
The most significant contributing factors to childhood obesity are a lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits. As you can see, not enough emphasis is being placed on the importance of healthy eating. Some families may not be able to afford healthy, nutritious food for their families. Unfortunately, junk food is often the least expensive and most convenient option.
The media makes matters worse. According to a food marketing report by the Federal Trade Commission, drinks marketed to children and teens averaged 20 grams of added sugar per serving in 2009. Companies spent $1.7 billion marketing food products to youth, advertising sugary cereals, fast food and unhealthy snacks through TV commercials, internet advertising and other media sources.
Children are also spending too much time in front of a screen every day. Most American children are spending between five and seven hours every day in front of a screen, whether they are playing video games, watching TV or using a computer. Parents should limit their kids’ screen time to one hour a day. Considering these numbers, children are spending far too much time sitting and being physically inactive. Plus, when kids stay inside watching TV, they are more likely to overindulge on snacks.
Parents may think it is safer to keep their children indoors, but a sedentary lifestyle is far more harmful than many may realize. Without exercise, children are not burning excess calories, and they are at higher risk of becoming obese. Obesity can have serious consequences, such as:
What can we do as parents, educators and community members to prevent obesity in our schools and homes? How can we change our perceptions about outdoor play and encourage healthy and happy living for the children in our community?
Although the word “epidemic” is intimidating and overwhelming, there are plenty of prevention strategies we can use when it comes to childhood obesity. Good health is within every child’s reach if we work together to promote play and nutritious eating.
Children who struggle with obesity may lack the motivation to start an exercise program on their own. Rigorous activity can be difficult for obese children, and they may become quickly discouraged. Even worse, they may not want to give exercise a try. What’s the solution? Encourage children to get exercise through outdoor play.
When physical activity is fun, children are more motivated to engage in it. Adults are not much different. Think about a time when you skipped the gym because it was boring. Perhaps you prefer a scenic hike opposed to 20 minutes on the treadmill.
When exercise is fun, we look forward to the activity, and we do not see it as a chore. We are more likely to avoid activities we do not enjoy, even if they are good for us. If a child often prefers to be inactive, it does not mean they are lazy — they just need to find a physical activity they enjoy.
Playtime is an essential factor in childhood obesity prevention because most kids love to play outside. The earlier you teach a child the benefits of playtime, the more likely they will carry an appreciation of outdoor exercise throughout their lives.
Early prevention is the most effective tool in the fight against childhood obesity. Children who struggle with their weight as early as preschool often continue to have health issues throughout their lives. It is recommended that children get 60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every day.
Overall, outdoor play helps prevent and fight obesity because it:
Children can struggle with obesity at any age. The earlier you help a child maintain a healthy weight, the better. Here are some ways to approach physical activity and keep obesity at bay for children according to age group:
You can find plenty of articles and books about physical activity and childhood obesity, and it is highly likely all of them will tell you physical activity needs to be enjoyable for a child to engage. Consider how outdoor activities are in constant competition with the lure of television shows, movies and digital devices.
Playgrounds are designed to pull kids away from the screen and get them excited about outdoor playtime. While an empty yard or grassy field may not inspire much excitement, a vibrant, engaging playground will.
Playgrounds invite children of all sizes, abilities and ages to swing, balance and climb. At the playground, children unknowingly build muscle, burn calories and boost happiness. They are too busy playing with other children and exploring their imagination to notice the exercise they’re getting. Time flies by on the playground, making it easy to get the recommended hour of physical activity a day.
Playgrounds help prevent obesity because children learn to look forward to playing on the playground. They learn that moving around outside can be a lot more satisfying than sitting in front of a screen for hours on end. Every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of play.
Playgrounds are vital to any school or community for their many health-promoting benefits such as:
Modern playground equipment goes far beyond the typical slides and swings many of us grew up with. Today’s playgrounds are specially designed to help children get exercise in the way they need while being mentally stimulating and enjoyable. Playgrounds are built to keep up with the times and get children excited about outdoor playtime.
You can even add equipment specially designed for fitness and wellness to any playground to make exercise a fun feel-good part of a child’s day. Adults can also join in and set an example by their child’s side while improving their health. Screen time can never replace playtime.
Every child needs play in their life, every single day. Sadly, many American schools are not placing a high enough value on recess and outdoor play. A 2009 study found that three in 10 children had either no recess during the day or a break of fewer than 15 minutes.
Today’s children have less unstructured playtime in school than they did in the 1960s and 1970s, possibly as an effort to improve academic scores. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of children affected by childhood obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s.
In addition to a focus on academic performance, schools need to consider how children learn better after taking a recess break. Children are more attentive and can retain information better when they get a chance to recharge during the school day. So, their overall academic performance improves.
Playtime is critical in developing a child’s cognitive, emotional, physical and social health. Consider the importance of play for all ages:
During play, children use their imagination as they create fantasy worlds, act out different roles and express their emotions. They also learn to work in teams to accomplish common goals and make decisions as they choose which game to play next. They are also exposed to dealing with differences and disagreements. The benefits to play are seemingly endless, but in some of the most notable benefits of playtime include:
One of the biggest causes of obesity is a lack of physical exercise, and playtime encourages physical activity. Communities, families and schools can help children maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity by supporting and promoting playtime and recess.
One of our goals at Playworld is to promote physical health with our playground equipment. We’re proud to say we’ve designed and manufactured playground equipment specifically for children and adults who strive to live healthy lifestyles.
Playworld designs playground equipment intended to stimulate children’s imagination and make them want to play. We offer everything from standalone playground equipment that can be added to an existing play area to full playground structures that can be customized to fit your space.
Playground Fitness Equipment
Our fitness and wellness equipment is accessible to adolescents and adults of all abilities, so you or your child do not have to already be in shape to get in shape. We want to show all children that being fit is fun and attainable. Our fitness and wellness equipment includes:
Partner with Playworld
At Playworld, we never stopped believing in the value of play. Our goal is to save play because it is not an option — it is a necessity for all children. We think every child in every community deserves access to fun, stimulating playgrounds.
If you are looking for playground equipment to boost the joy and fitness of your community or school, reach out to Playworld today. Join us in our mission to provide high-quality, innovative playground equipment that inspires creativity and good health. You’ll enjoy many benefits when you work with Playworld, such as:
At Playworld, we strive to bring vibrant playgrounds to every community. Whether you want to add accessible playtime to your school or other community space, contact Playworld today and help children enjoy greater health for generations to come.