Op-ed: Where are the kids?
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In case you haven't noticed, today's playgrounds, baseball fields and basketball courts are void of children during the spring, summer and early fall months.
When my kids were growing up, they were outside on swings, playing baseball, and shooting hoops from dawn until the streetlights came on. You could also see them riding their bikes for miles across the city.
Of course, I still see many contemporary youngsters riding bicycles. But they're motorized! Can you believe it? They're not even getting any exercise with bikes nowadays.
Some authorities have blamed Covid for this lack of physical activity by our children. But that's a blatant excuse. The empty field phenomenon was taking place long before the epidemic. Others suggest that it is because summers are hotter now. That's just another lame cop-out. Boys and girls in my generation were playing baseball and softball in just as hot and humid weather. And we didn't mind the heat at all because we were so engrossed in our games. The same was true when my kids were growing up.
Furthermore, in past generations, our youth physically went to their friends' homes. My kids would ride their bikes (manually) and go from door to door early in the morning, collecting fellow adolescents to organize teams to play sandlot baseball, basketball or football. Thus, they were unknowingly losing fat calories and developing physically fit bodies, even if they ate foods that weren't considered the most nutritious.
It has been said that "moderation" is important in all facets of life. In other words, too much of anything can cause detrimental effects. I think my readers know where I'm going with this - the overuse of technology.
Today our youth visit their friends by texting them while lying on their sofas and even during mealtime. Just go to any restaurant, and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Likewise, they spend hour upon hour playing video games on their computers.
I doubt if anyone would disagree with me.
The Facts
The following statistics have been compiled by the Center for Disease Control in 2024.
It has been determined that 17% of children and 20% of adolescents are obese in America. In reference to physical activity, only 16% of children and adolescents meet United States Physical Activity Recommendations. Likewise, fewer than 1 in 10 children and adolescents have nutritious daily diets.
Such negative numbers should shock all of us. So, what can be done to eliminate the obesity problem? Consider the following.
Preventing Obesity
Fortunately, school systems have been doing their part for decades to promote proper nutrition and physical fitness. School dieticians see to it that students eat nutritional foods in their school cafeterias. And no longer do schools offer sugary drinks and treats in their K through 12 vending machines.
In health classes, students are educated on the intake of proper foods to eat on a daily basis from breakfast to the evening meal. Our health educators also recommend eating fruits as opposed to candy. They stress that a poor diet contributes to an excess calorie intake which leads to obesity. And excessive fat can later lead to heart disease, diabetes, depression, as well as other maladies.
Likewise, physical education teachers and coaches preach to their students and athletes the importance of physical activities outside the school environment. For example, they assist their proteges in developing timelines that incorporate physical activities in their daily routines. Movement educators also expose the students to lifetime sports, such as tennis, bowling, and golf.
Parents, you have the most important responsibility in seeing to it that your children live healthy lives. First, you must lead by example by eating healthy foods at home.
Second, see to it that mealtime is comprised of family members interacting with each other, setting aside cell phones. Third, limit your children's time on the computer. Fourth, promote their involvement in sports. And finally, live an active family lifestyle, which should include walking, jogging, hiking, swimming, or any other physical activity that you can all do together.
Conclusion
Please note. We all have different body types which means that some individuals are heavier due to heredity. So, they're not necessarily obese. With that in mind, adults must place more emphasis on encouraging their children to get more physically active in their daily lives and to eat more nutritious foods.
Nothing would delight me more than to see our athletic fields and playgrounds filled with boys and girls of all ages. This vision can only be accomplished if we all work together to eliminate obesity in our youth.
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Bill Welker, EdD, is a freelance columnist who enjoys penning informative articles on sports, education and topics that interest him. Although Welker spent the majority of his teaching career as a classroom reading specialist, he also holds degrees in health and physical education. Welker can be contacted at mattalkwv@hotmail.com.