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"Physical Activity and Health: A Report by the Surgeon General"        I

Report Findings 
In this report, the Surgeon General reports the following statistics about physical activity of today's youth:

         About 14% of U.S. children and adolescents do not regularly partake in  light-moderate or vigorous activity or  exercise.

            Nearly 1/2 of youth ages 12-21 get NO regular vigorous daily physical activity.

            Children and adolescent participation in physical activity tends to decline with increasing age.

            Children and adolescents are at risk for developing serious health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, elevated blood lipids, asthma, and other diseases associated with inactive lifestyles.

Recommendations and Strategies to Increase Physical Activity

The Surgeon General, in conjunction with the CDC, recommends that everyone should participate in a moderate amount of physical activity on most, if not every day.  Moderate activity consists of 15 minutes of running, 30 min or brisk walking, 45 min of volleyball or cycling, etc.  To address the findings of the above report, the Surgeon General suggests the following strategies:

1) Make exercise / physical activity enjoyable for children.

2) Help children and adolescents succeed and increase their confidence in their own ability to be physically active.

3) Help children learn about the health benefits of exercise and encourage positive attitudes toward physical activity.

4) Plan physical activities as a family, with parents providing good role models for improving overall family health.

Suggestions for Family Physical Activity

GO FOR A FAMILY BICYCLE RIDE:  Always obey traffic laws, ride with traffic, and remember to wear a bike helmet to prevent serious head injury.  NH State law requires everyone ages 16 and under to wear a helmet when riding.

If you have a question about bicycle safety, call NH SAFE KIDS at 1-877-783-0432

TAKE A FAMILY HIKE: From walking together as a family after dinner in your neighborhood, to hiking in the woods on a weekend, use this time to exercise and teach children about nature and their neighborhood.

To find a trail to hike as a family in your area, call the NH Trails Bureau at 271-3254, or click on this link to their website: http://www.nhtrails.org/Trailspages/Hikingpages/Hikhome.html
 

PLAN A FAMILY DAY AT THE BEACH: Plan to visit the beach with your family, and make the day an active one...fly kites, have a sand castle-building contest, play beach volleyball, and play in the surf.  Don't forget the sunscreen and a hat, and ALWAYS check with the Lifeguard about the water conditions BEFORE swimming in the ocean, and NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN TO SWIM ALONE.