So we all know that children need to do lots of physical exercise to keep healthy. But did you know that by 2050 it is predicted that as many as 70% of girls and 55% of boys could be overweight or obese through too much fatty food and not enough exercise.
And also that one in four 7 year old girls have tried to lose weight and one third of young boys aged 8-12 are dieting to lose weight?
Seven to twelve year old children dieting and yet our children are getting larger and more unfit.
Something has clearly gone very wrong with the world in which we live.
With the celebrity culture, rise in fatty foods and sedentary lifestyles that many of us now lead children are both simultaneously being made more aware of how the media thinks they should look and getting larger and more unfit with each passing generation.
Body confidence and self-esteem in young children is at an all time low.
And this low body confidence and lack of self esteem is also hindering them in becoming healthy and active children: children are often now too self conscious about their body to take part in physical exercise.
So how do we help our children combat body image issues and get them fit and healthy?
Well the simple answer really is exercise.
‘Several studies and attested to the positive effects of physical activity on levels of self-esteem among children,’ it says in the report, Physical Activity and Body Image by Make time 2 Play. ‘People who have a higher self esteem tend to be more satisfied with their body image.’
I spoke with Linda Papadopolous, the well-know TV psychologist, last week about the which she is now the ambassador of. ‘Active play is the foundation for healthy children,’ she told me. ‘Children need to be out having fun, running around the park and enjoying the moment. And their parents should join in too.’
Sadly we do live in a culture that worships the celebrity lifestyle and there is simply no way to protect our children from the ridiculous ideals that this culture sets. The best we can do is help our children understand that it’s all nonsense and help to teach them what really matters. ‘Children model their behaviour on their parents and need good role models when it comes to exercise,’ Dr Papadopolous said. ‘They need to learn that it’s what their body can do and not how it looks that’s important. And parents need to come to grips with this idea and teach it to their children through example.’
As parents we need to be sure to lead by example and not talk about our weight issues in front of our children. We need to speak positively about sport and exercise and really interact and play with out children.
So what can we do?
Go to the park and run around, kick a ball.
Play tag.
Play football or frisbee or catch.
Go swimming, bike riding or out on scooters.
Just get together, go and do something and have fun.
And the best bit, not only does it get you and the kids healthy and active, increase their self esteem and their body confidence but it also means you get to spend lots more time together having fun and engaging with each other.
Win win, really.
What are you waiting for?