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Slouching in front of the TV, scoffing crisps and always asking for a lift ... are your children becoming couch potatoes?
Britain is rapidly becoming a nation of overweightand unfit adults. Our unhealthy lifestyles cause180,000 deaths from heart attacks or heartrelatedproblems every year. It is easy to believethis is just an adult problem, but parents shouldn’tbe complacent: according to research, heartdisease may start early with inactive youngsters.
Experts recommend that children perform anactivity that makes them out of breath for 15minutes at least three times a week. But the lureof computer games and TV, combined with thefact that children don’t walk far any more (manyare driven nearly everywhere) means we’rebreeding a generation of couch potatoes whoare destined to boost heart-related deaths.
Children are influenced by the amount ofphysical exercise their parents take. A Universityof Massachusetts survey revealed that 67 percent of the children studied pursued the samesports as their fathers and 73 per cent followedtheir mother’s.So, if you want to encourage your children,setting a good example is a good start. But lastyear, the Allied Dunbar National Fitness Surveyshowed Britain to be a nation of lazy layabouts.While 80 per cent of participants realised regularexercise was important, 70 per cent of men and 80 per cent of women did not do enough to keepthem healthy. Indeed, almost half of the adultpopulation and 40 per cent of females areoverweight.
With adults setting such a terrible example, itfollows that children’s fitness levels might alsobe a cause for concern. The Northern IrelandHealth and Fitness Survey, headed by Dr ChrisRiddoch, has researched the amount ofexercise children undertake and producedsome alarming statistics.
The team interviewed 11 to 18-year olds andfound an appreciable decline in physical activitylevels after the age of 14, particularly amonggirls. Only a quarter of the children’s exercisewas taken at school although, for a third ofpupils, PE lessons were the only exercise taken.In addition, more than 20 per cent regularlysmoked cigarettes and drank alcohol.
Most parents think that their offspring get all theexercise they need at school but this may notbe true. Your child is showing signs of becominga couch potato if he or she:
- is reluctant to walk anywhere and alwaysasks to be taken by car
- never plays sport with friends or goes toa sports centre
- never uses a bicycle, ice skates or rollerskates
- is only interested in watching TV andplaying computer games
- complains of boredom
- is left puffing and panting just from walkingupstairs
- is overweight but still eats lots ofchocolates and crisps
If this sounds all too familiar, consider whatactivities your children should be  doing and howyou can encourage them.
From infancy, most children find exerciseenjoyable. Once they become coordinated, theywill enjoy playgroups and exercise classeswhere they can run, jump and explore with otheryoung children.
Dr Riddoch believes that active play remainsimportant up to the age of puberty: “Childrenmake up their own games, and parents shouldencourage this rather than resorting to TV andvideos to entertain them.”
Secondary schools offer a wide range ofactivities, with netball, football, swimming,cycling and dance among the favourites. Somesports are only suitable for older children: forexample weightlifting isn’t recommended foryounger children, as young bones could bedamaged. There is also debate about whetherchildren should run long distances.
Remember, though, that your child should neverbe forced to participate in something or bemade to feel a failure for not winning. Instead,the emphasis should be on enjoyment, backedup with lots of encouragement.
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