The importance of exercise
Go play! Exercise is one of the most important aspects of a child's development, yet we are witnessing an alarming trend in the United States. Children of all backgrounds are lacking the proper amount of exercise in their daily life. The American Heart Association states that "Childhood obesity rates are at an all-time high" as "nearly one in three kids and teens in the United States are obese or overweight" (AHA). With numerous studies(example) showing a strong correlation between a lack of exercise and an increased risk of obesity, the urge to get children out and playing is seeing an uptick. According to Demetrius Albanes, a researcher at the National Cancer Institute, ""Physical activity beneficially affects body weight" (SA). The more children get out and play, the greater the health benefits!
Has technology replaced traditional forms of exercise?
How much is enough?
The amount of exercise a child needs is specific to each individual. However, experts on the subject have found that being active for at least an hour each day leads to tremendous health benefits for children. In 2009, The American Heart Association teamed with The National Football League (NFL) to launch the NFL Play 60 Challenge. It is an initiative striving towards "the goal of getting kids physically active for 60 minutes every day all year long" (AHA).
In fact, this initiative does not just benefit the children in their current state, but will also teach them proper exercise behavior moving into adulthood. Studies conducted by the American Heart Association has produced research proving that "active youth are more likely to become active, healthy adults with a lower risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis" (AHA). Good exercise behaviors are instilled at a young age, it is up to parents to provide a proper example.
Not so fast! With the rapid increase of technology has come the introduction of what are referred to as "active video games." These game consoles (such as Xbox or Wii) take what would be an inactive task (playing video games) and introduce a physical component to the game. Research has been done testing the benefits of such these systems and whether or not they could replace traditional forms of physical activity. Results? Old-school trumps new-school.
According to (AVG) "Active video games can be used as an excellent addition to, but not a replacement for, traditional intensive physical activity or sports in children/adolescents’ daily life" (AVG). So, while technology may help to eliminate some of the harmful behaviors that are trending in present society, it has not yet replaced traditional forms of physical activity.
High-intensity training vs. Endurance Training
With the increasingly busy schedules that many Americans find themselves managing, finding time for exercise can seem overwhelming. Certain time restraints require many to squeeze in workouts whenever appplicable, many are gravitating toward high-intensity training workouts in order to maximize their time. It turns out that this may be a beneficial method for children as well. While, endurance training can often require a large, uninterrupted block of time, high-intensity workouts demand a shorter attention span. This is a vital piece of information, as "children may be naturally prone to short bouts of intensive exercise rather than prolonged continuous exercise" (HIT source). Both types of training can be advantageous in the fight against childhood obesity, however you are more likely to have better luck with short duration-higher intensity workouts.