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Diabetes

Sports and Exercise

There are many reasons why children today are larger and heavier than 20 years ago

  • there is more food available; generally all children are taller and better nourished
  • there are more convenience foods available, meals may be less balanced
  • here are more foods aimed specifically at children
  • there are many more advertisements aimed at children - they use this 'pester power' to get what they want
  • less families eat together - different members of the family eat at different times. There is less likely to be a balanced meal in this situation
  • more take away meals are eaten more regularly - these are nearly always high in fat

BUT THE BIGGEST CHANGE OF ALL IS LESS EXERCISE!!!

Why don't children exercise as much as they used to?

  • More cars - children get lifts to school, into town, to their friends
  • Safety issue...more cars mean it is more dangerous to play out, ride a bike as there is more traffic. There needs to be more adult supervision of children's activities
  • More TV to watch, lots of different channels, means more likely to watch more TV and do less exercise
  • More videos to watch if nothing on TV, means more likely to watch more TV and do less exercise
  • TV in the bedroom, more likely to watch more TV
  • Remote control TV
  • Computer games and the internet - computer games do not increase physical activity like active games
  • All of these indoor activities are likely to involve eating and drinking at the same time...you can't eat and run around at the same time
  • There are less facilities for sport, schools place less emphasis on sport

NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE BACK TO HOW IT USED TO BE, SO MORE EFFORT HAS TO BE MADE TO INCREASE ACTIVITY TO PREVENT GENERATIONS OF OBESE CHILDREN WHO GROW INTO OBESE ADULTS

So what counts as exercise or activity?

Brisk walking

Running

Skipping

Active playing

Gardening

Aerobics

School P.E

Get off bus earlier & walk

Football

Netball

Basketball

Hula Hooping

Cycling

Washing the car

Tennis or swingball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dog walking

Taking stairs NOT lifts

Running up & down stairs

Swimming

Dancing to music

Water aerobics

Housework

Exercise videos

Throwing/catching

Rounders

Trampolining

Frisbee Playing

Roller blading

Climbing on frame

Hopscotch or jumping

 

 

 

 

 

It doesn't matter if you are not good at something, as long as you enjoy it! If you don't like team games, choose an activity that you can do on your own or with a small number of people. Exercise teaches new skills, helps to build confidence and self esteem as well as fitness.

Which activities can be done as a family? Exercise is good for everyone what ever their age, shape or size. Children learn by example, so let them see their parents being active....

Disclaimer

This website is designed for use by the Leeds Paediatric Diabetes Team and children and parents referred to their service.  Every effort has been made to make sure there are no errors on the website.  If you think there are any inaccuracies could you please e-mail us so that we can check.  kate.barker@leedsth.nhs.uk

 

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