National Childhood Obesity Month

Obesity in America is a problem, and it doesn’t seem to be going away. Though the United States is a champion for innovation, technology, and other astounding breakthroughs, it seems we fall short when it comes to general health. Obesity, specifically childhood obesity, is a major problem that our culture has yet to find solutions for. There have been minor improvements, of course, as menus at some fast food restaurants now have to post calorie counts. And, of course, schools now demand that children play for at least 60 minutes in mandated physical education classes. But, even with these improvements, childhood obesity is still a big problem in the U.S. So, what can we do about?

The change comes with the parents.

Staying Active

As a parent, a lot of responsibility falls to you. Though it may seem like added weight to start worrying about what your child is eating, their health is up to you. You need to monitor what your child is eating and how active they are staying throughout their day. Inactivity is a leading reason why children become obese.

Though school require 60 minutes of physical education, that does not necessarily mean that your child is participating in the activity. Instead, they would be simply going through the motions, slowly walking, and even ditching the class. It is important as a parent to make sure your child is staying active.
School sports or club sports are great way to ensure that your child is working out outside of school mandated programs. Sports not only will keep your child active and healthy, but build important team and leadership skills they will use for the rest of their life.

Underlying Issues

If your child shows no enthusiasm for working out, playing sports, or even their own physical education classes, perhaps it is important to talk to them. Every child doesn’t need to be a track star or a football captain, but physical activity is important for every child. Typically, when people are depressed or repressing feelings of anger or sadness, they will refuse to work out (which is ironic because working out is great for stress). Obesity is directly linked to depression and bullying among children. If there is an underlying issue, it is important, as a parent, to offer support to your child.

Changing the Thought Process

Much of the issue with childhood obesity is that children don’t have the right thought process when it comes to working out; they see it as a negative, rather than a positive activity. Exercise is hard. It physically demands that you push yourself. But, after working out comes great reward. Not only will you be healthy but your muscles can grow bigger and stronger. Many times, the reason children are obese is because they think negatively of working out. This thought process can come from their own perception or perhaps an adaptation of their parents’ relationship to working out. For instance, if you, as a parent, are overweight, this can cause your child to form a negative connection between exercise and their lives. Because they view working out as a chore, they are less likely to partake in it, which will mean they will gain weight.

Rebounderz of Rohnert Park

One of the best ways to ensure that your child doesn’t gain unnecessary weight is by keeping them active early on. By encouraging them to form a healthy way of life, they are less likely to view working out as a negative. Instead of giving in to laziness, they will be able to learn how exercise can help them grow healthy and strong.
At Rebounderz, we understand the importance of exercise. We encourage every child to bounce at our indoor trampoline park and experience how wonderful staying active can be. Many times, if a child has grown to under-appreciate physical activity, perhaps it is because they have not experienced it in a fun way. At Rebounderz, we offer a fun-filled experiences for people of all ages. You can come to our indoor trampoline park and bounce away on our trampoline park or play trampoline dodgeball. The best way to change a child’s mind about exercise is to make it fun! Visit your local Rohnert Park Rebounderz today.