Sitting too much may be worse for kids

Sitting too much may be worse for kids

Our kids sit a lot.

Six hours at school, an hour or two doing homework, all followed by some quality TV or video game time…suddenly our little boys and girls have spent most of the day on their caboose.

And we already know what that can lead to:

Increase risk of heart disease Overproductive pancreas, which can lead to diabetes Colon Cancer Posture issues Neck and back pain

  • Increase risk of heart disease
  • Overproductive pancreas, which can lead to diabetes
  • Colon Cancer
  • Posture issues
  • Neck and back pain
  • Increase risk of heart disease
  • Overproductive pancreas, which can lead to diabetes
  • Colon Cancer
  • Posture issues
  • Neck and back pain
  • Notice anything about that list? Yep…they’re some of the same effects smoking causes! Sitting is just as bad as smoking!

    It’s estimated that children spend up to 85% of their waking hours sitting, which means they'll have spent much of their lives sitting by the time they reach adulthood, making the issues that sitting causes even more difficult to overcome.

    The Solution:

    Since there’s not much that can be done to avoid sitting during the school day, parents and children can take proactive steps before and after school to counteract the effects of being in a chair all day.

    Spend at least 10 minutes before school engaged in some form of physical activity. Even just walking around the neighborhood will help.After school, take homework breaks where you do squats, lunges, or just walk. Take a walk with family before or after dinner. Try to avoid sitting as much as possible during family time. Have everyone participate in a squat challenge where you see how many squats you can do in a specific amount of time, say 1 minute.

  • Spend at least 10 minutes before school engaged in some form of physical activity. Even just walking around the neighborhood will help.After school, take homework breaks where you do squats, lunges, or just walk.

  • Take a walk with family before or after dinner.
  • Try to avoid sitting as much as possible during family time. Have everyone participate in a squat challenge where you see how many squats you can do in a specific amount of time, say 1 minute.
  • Spend at least 10 minutes before school engaged in some form of physical activity. Even just walking around the neighborhood will help.After school, take homework breaks where you do squats, lunges, or just walk.

  • Take a walk with family before or after dinner.
  • Try to avoid sitting as much as possible during family time. Have everyone participate in a squat challenge where you see how many squats you can do in a specific amount of time, say 1 minute.