(PCM) What’s the number one concern for parents as they prepare to send their kids back to school? It’s not bullying, smoking, or test preparation; for the first time, it’s lack of exercise.
The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital conducted its sixth annual National Poll on Children’s Health. “Insufficient exercise” was found to be the number one parental concern with 39 percent of parents ranking it as their top concern. Followed closely in second with 37 percent was childhood obesity.
Physical education, along with recess, is slowly becoming a thing of the past, and in a time when our children need it the most – nearly 1/3 of all children are overweight or obese. The CDC recommends children and adolescents get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, yet physical education is not federally required in school, and only 5 states require PE for students.
Investigators report, “While lack of exercise is certainly linked to the second most commonly identified concern—childhood obesity—exercise is a notable new top concern in the Poll’s annual top 10 list.”
Is lack of exercise your top concern? Make exercise part of your family time! Go to the park after school, play tag, take bike rides – anything that gets the family moving! Join the 100,000-Person Movement to Make Every Kid Healthy and End Childhood Obesity!
More:
5 Ways to Fight Childhood Obesity at Home
10 Tips for an Active, Healthy Family
