Facts & Statistcs
Since 1980, childhood obesity rates have tripled. If the current trend continues, more than 80%
of today’s pre-k students will be over-weight or obese by the time they graduate from high school.
FIT Y.O.U.T.H., in an effort to encourage lifelong health and wellness, strives to educate children and their families on the benefits of regular physical education and healthy eating.
of today’s pre-k students will be over-weight or obese by the time they graduate from high school.
FIT Y.O.U.T.H., in an effort to encourage lifelong health and wellness, strives to educate children and their families on the benefits of regular physical education and healthy eating.
Benefits of Regular Physical Activity and Healthy Eating
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that young people aged 6 – 17 years old partipate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.
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Regular physical activity in childhood:
- Improves strength
- Helps build healthy bones and muscles
- Helps control weight
- Reduces anxiety and stress, and
- Increases self-esteem -
Regular exercise benefits the brain too!
- Improves memory
- Lengthens attention span
- Boosts decision makingskills
- Improves multi-tasking and planning - Research shows that students who get regular physical activity tend to receive higher grades.
- Proper nutrition promotes optimal growth and development in children.
- Learning healthy eating habits at an early age helps prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and helps reduce the risk of developing childhood obesity and other related chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes in adulthood.