Children turning into couch potatoes points against the motion
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Today's children are spending more and more time in front of computer and TV consoles, and less time out on a soccer field or baseball diamond. At the same time, obesity among children is on the rise. Coincidence? Maybe, but probably not. In this article, Ipsos-Reid shares some of their findings on the way that kids are spending their leisure time, and suggests that food and beverage manufacturers have a great opportunity to market more nutritious snacks for today's more sedentary children.
If you had a childhood that was anything like mine, your parents would urge you to go play outside when you'd been hanging around the house bugging them for too long or whining about "being bored." As little as twenty years ago, such a command was a parent's best chance at getting some peace and quiet and tiring out their hyperactive children in the process.
Things have changed. There are a thousand ways for kids to entertain themselves these days on their own. The thing is, today's "play" often involves a technological device rather than a backyard or stretch of grass. This change is affecting kids' behavior, psychology, and health. Regarding the last area, many experts are tracing a link between high amounts of media watching/playing among children and increased risk for obesity.
Childhood obesity has been increasing at the same rate as it has in adults. In fact, it has been estimated that up to one-quarter of children and teens are overweight in the U.S. One of the major reasons for the onset of obesity in children is bad eating habits as well as inadequate exercise. A recent Ipsos-Reid Global Express survey found that many young people across the world are devoting scant time to exercising, which for some children (depending on their genes) can provoke a dangerous slide into weight gain.