The facts - childhood obesity
Childhood obesity
Obesity is the state of being overweight to an extent that affects your health. On rare occasions it's caused by a genetic condition, but generally it's down to an unhealthy diet and not enough exercise.
Nearly three-quarters of a million children in the UK are obese. It has been estimated that this figure will reach a million by 2012, and by 2025 around a quarter of all boys will be classified as dangerously overweight.
Being overweight can bring a range of serious health problems that may start in childhood and worsen in later life. Research shows that about 160,000 children are displaying signs that they will develop heart disease. At least 150,000 have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Other health conditions associated with being overweight are diabetes, liver failure and heart problems.
More information on childhood obesity can be found here:
Exercise: how much is enough?
The Department of Health recommends that children do at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. It doesn't have to be all in one go, they can do 20 minutes blocks throughout the day. But they will need to get a bit sweaty.
Moderate exercise involves getting slightly out of breath – but not so much they can't talk. A brisk walk, as if late for an appointment, is perfect.
This amount of exercise is enough to strengthen bones and muscles and can stop children putting on weight.
NHS article on exerciseCalorie count
Walking can burn up around five calories per minute. (That's only two calories less than riding a bike.)
If you want to burn off a kilogram of body fat, you'll need to use up 7700 calories that's about 41 bags of crisps!
[url=http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories/calorie_counter
/crisps_snacks.htm]Weight loss Resources[/url]
How does it work? Generating energy
Any movement we do, from reaching for the remote control to a full workout, requires energy to move our muscles.
We get energy from the food we eat. Our food is broken down and its energy stored ready to be used as fuel. Carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of fuel, but it can also use fat to give us energy.
When we need to generate energy, our cells kick off a chemical reaction to release the fuel and give our muscles energy. Oxygen provides the catalyst for that chemical reaction in our muscles, including the heart – this generates 'aerobic' energy.
So getting your muscles moving in the fresh air can be a great way to get oxygen flowing and wake yourself up.
[url=http://www.pitchvision.com/what-happens-in-your-body-when-y
ou-score-a-hundred-runs/]www.pitchvision.com[/url]
How a walk to school will boost their brains
A burst of energy for the body is a burst of energy for the brain.
A walk outdoors sends oxygen to the brain. Pupils who've walked to school arrive feeling brighter, more alert and awake – and ready to learn. Research from the Department of Transport showed that children who
walked to school settled down to morning lessons quicker than those who were driven in.
Walking gets results. Studies at the University of Essex showed that exercise helped 10 and 11 year olds do better in exams.
Walk to school campaign information
Healthier and happierIt's not only adults that get stressed. Children can have a lot on their minds, particularly at exam time. Striding in to school and wandering home again can help children relax.
Getting outdoors before and after school can have positive effects on children's mood – especially if their walk takes them through a park or green space. Exposure to nature helps reduce feelings of anxiety and anger.
Walking gives children time to socialise with their friends, meet new people and become more observant. Walk to School campaign researchers asked the children what they thought they would remember about their trip to
school when they had grown up. Those who walked described pursuits that they could actively take part in, for example, “running over the bumps” or “meeting up with my friend Lexi”. The children in cars described objects they saw: “petrol station”, “traffic lights” or “cows”.
Walk to school campaign information:
www.sd-commission.org.ukPower Up! with parents
The journey to school is the perfect time for parents to talk to their children and chat to their friends. If they walk in with them, parents get to see the local area through their children's eyes.
While they're walking to school parents can help their children to become aware of the dangers on the roads and to learn good road crossing skills.
"Encouraging parents to walk their children to school, where it is possible, makes perfect sense. It means children are more savvy about road safety, it keeps them fit, and it means less traffic congestion. "
Cllr David Sparks, Local Government Association spokesperson on transport
The environment
The more people that walk to school, the less cars on the road.
Leaving the car at home, even once a week will mean reducing the amount of traffic around the school, and the danger it can cause.
The school run is responsible for an estimated 2 million tonnes of C02 emissions each year. Cut down the number of cars involved and you improve air pollution, which can cause problems such as asthma, particularly in children.
Walk to school campaign information
Not everyone has the time to walk to school. What if they have to drive straight on to work? Or live a long distance away?
At the moment two out of three car journeys made as part of the school run go straight home afterwards. So, a lot more people could be walking without it making a big difference to their day, not to mention saving all that petrol money. And if someone can't walk the whole way, why not encourage them to stop the car a walk away from the school and get the best of both worlds?
"Encouraging parents to walk their children to school, where it is possible, makes perfect sense. It means children are more savvy about road safety, it keeps them fit, and it means less traffic congestion. "
Cllr David Sparks, Local Government Association spokesperson on transport
