Can’t wait for summer break?
Put brakes on summer weight!
Followed by Caleb conquers! and Keep the sizzle in your summer
Indianapolis, INDIANA
Kids can stay healthy all summer by being active.
You can beat the summer slump, too!
Indianapolis, INDIANA – Ahhhh, summer is almost here – fun
in the sun, sleeping late, no homework, TV time, Fourth of July
picnics – the relaxing, lazy days of summertime.
Sounds like fun, right?
A new study by two universities has health experts worrying
that some children’s summer days are too relaxing and lazy.
Indiana University and Ohio State University researchers studied
the growth rates of 5,380 children, ages 5 and 6, for two years.
The children gained more weight during the summer months than
during the school months.
Researchers are not exactly sure of the cause of the weight gain.
They assume it is because children are not on a rigid schedule 
during the summer. Perhaps
they watch more TV and play
more video games, thereby
not exercising as much.
Researchers also guess
that children have more
opportunites to snack on
unhealthy food.
“Clearly the source of
children’s obesity problems
lie outside of the school,” said
Dr. Doug Downey, one of the researchers.
“Do whatever it takes to stay active this summer. Get your
buddies together and play games. Build a fort; go for hikes,”
said Beth Sands, mom and Little League coach in southeast Georgia.
Don’t let the summer break add unhealthy weight to your body.
Instead – keep your body moving, fill up on delicious summer
fruits and veggies, and keep the weight away.
back to top
Caleb conquers!
Madison, ALABAMA
RN Photo
Caleb Story, 14, of Madison, Alabama set out
to
conquer an unhealthy lifestyle.
By swimming, working out, and eating right,
he’s starting a lifetime of healthy habits.
Madison, ALABAMA – In December, Caleb Story, 14,
set out to change his life. He and his family wanted to
escape their unhealthy lifestyle.
They ate less fast food and started fixing low-fat meals
at home. Most weekday mornings, they swam laps and
lifted weights at the Madison Wellness Center.
After five months, they’re still at it. “I lost 20 pounds.
I feel stronger, and I have more energy,” Caleb said.
“I feel like I’ve really made a difference in my life,
and I’ll lose more weight.”
Caleb’s advice about food: “Watch out for cheeseburgers
and chicken nuggets. It’s not terrible to watch TV, but
when you do, skip the chips.”
About moving: “This summer, stay energetic. A trip to
the playground would be awesome. Run around your
block every morning.”
To kids who may be overweight: “Stay healthy!
Don’t feel bad about yourself if you’re overweight,
but it’s a lot better to be healthy. You can lose weight.
You just have to put your mind to it.”
Thanks, Caleb, and congratulations! You did it!
back to top
Keep the sizzle in your summer Keep moving!
Illustration "Summer Dilemma" by Ivan Mader
►Turn on the sprinkler and run through it.
►Choose a different sport for each week and
play games with neighborhood friends.
►See how many different ways you can walk to
your friend’s house. Count the steps or minutes
it takes to get there with each different path.
►Have contests with friends. For example, see
who can bounce a basketball the longest, throw
a Frisbee the farthest, or turn the most cartwheels
without falling.
►Make a scavenger hunt list for a sibling or
friend. Then do the hunt together.
►Go for a family walk. See if you can spot
something for every letter of the alphabet.
►Make an obstacle course in your backyard and
invite the neighbors to compete for the fastest time.
back to top
Back to today's Real News Online Headlines
|
