This Day in History Trophy Website Award School Supply List Farmington Clinic Mr. While You Shop Online Content Connection - Farmington Elementary School Focus on Family Fitness Timothy Gower Today, between 15 and 25 percent of schoolchildren in the United States are overweight, placing them at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The Surgeon General's report also notes that children tend to become less active with each passing year. It's easy to blame the lure of TV and the Internet for turning kids into idle slackers, but the influences are far more complex. Budget-conscious school officials are cutting physical education programs.
Some adolescents surrender their free time to after-school jobs.
Many teens mysteriously forget that they own bicycles once they get a driver's license. Finally, exercise can fall victim to fashion, points out Mary Ann Hill, a spokeswoman for the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The Surgeon General recommends that all Americans get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. You don't need to be a super jock to inspire a child to stay fit. Ericka caught on quickly and now wins competitions.