Letter to the Editor

Mike Audi

The Importance of Exercise in School-Age Children

In this new age of technology, many children would prefer a computer screen or a

videogame controller over going outside and playing with friends. This decline of physical

activity, among other factors, may be largely responsible for the rising rates of obesity among

school-age children. According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people

(6 to 19 years) in the United States are obese. This statistic is shocking to many and puts a large

number of children across the United States at risk of developing serious health-related

complications.

Stressing the importance of exercise to school-age children can be a huge help to

deterring the obesity problem. There are multiple different forms of physical activity that

children can partake in. One great option is involvement in organized sports. Participating in an

organized sport provides children with scheduled time for physical fitness throughout the

season in practices and athletic events. Even if a child has no interest in participating in sports,

they should be educated about different forms of exercise they can use throughout life to

promote a healthy lifestyle.

According to the CDC, children and adolescents should do 60 minutes of physical activity

every day. This may seem like a lot, but it is a perfectly attainable goal and very important to

health and development. Encouraging children to participate in physical activity that is age-
appropriate can make a huge impact on the obesity problem that the United States is currently

facing.