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Kid Fit

21 May 2018

By: Susan Hickey

The childhood obesity epidemic is a hot topic in today’s news.  According to the American Heart Association (AHA), in 2016 about 1 of every 3 kids in the USA was overweight or obese.  This number has tripled since 1963!  There is a rise in conditions among our children and teens not previously seen until adulthood, like type II diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.  The AHA recommends that children and adolescents get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily.  Clearly, most kids are not that active on a regular basis.  How can we help change this?  Some kids might not be interested in team sports, ballet, or swimming.  Perhaps they don’t want to be the center of attention; they feel “shy” or have low self-confidence.  Our Dayton YMCAs have one potential answer to this:  the Kid Fit program, which teaches kids how to use the machines in the Wellness Center.


This introductory program targets 9-11 year olds.  The process is simple:  parents schedule an appointment with a fitness professional at a time that meets your family’s needs.  The Y fitness counselor teaches correct use of exercise equipment in our Wellness Center. This program includes instruction of both cardiovascular exercise equipment as well as strength training exercises.


My nine-year-old son recently participated in an initial Kid Fit session at the Coffman branch.  First, the fitness staff member, Matt, discussed goals and what my son hoped to accomplish through the program.  My son wants to work on upper body strength.  Matt then instructed my son how to progress his weight training, by increasing 5 pounds per week per exercise machine if a certain number of reps were achieved.   Next, Matt demonstrated safe and proper use of each piece of Kid Fit equipment.   There are several weight machines at Coffman that are specifically designed with lower weights for use by older children and adolescents.  Finally, Matt had my son try out one of the new treadmills, which he really enjoyed.  However, I felt more comfortable with him on a traditional treadmill that kept a constant speed, so we switched to one of those, and in no time my son had cranked out half a mile.


Some parents may be concerned about how much activity is appropriate for young kids.  Fortunately, the research shows that kids as young as 7 or 8 can benefit from strength training to increase muscle endurance, maintain normal blood pressure, and help maintain a healthy weight.  The key is understanding that at this age, the focus of strength training is on safety and proper technique.  So-called “bulking up” is not recommended at this age due to physical and skeletal immaturity.   However, strength training with a focus on lighter weight and more repetitions, done with proper form, can help your child improve overall fitness and also positively impact his performance in his favorite sport.


Working out as a family is a great bonding experience and promotes overall improved health.  It also helps kids learn to prioritize their own physical well being.  My son left with a new excitement for fun things he could start doing at the Y.  Help your children get interested in physical activity at our Dayton YMCAs by scheduling a Kid Fit orientation today!

 

Source:  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyKids/ChildhoodObesity/What-is-childhood-obesity_UCM_304347_Article.jsp
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/strength-training/art-20047758