Kids who enjoy sports and
exercise
tend to stay active throughout their lives.
Immediate benefits include maintaining a healthy
weight
, feeling more energetic, and promoting a better outlook.
Participating in team and individual sports can boost
self-confidence, provide opportunities for social interaction, and
offer a chance to have fun. And regular physical activity now can
help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and other medical problems
later in life.
Fitness in the Teen Years
It's recommended that teens get at least 1 hour of physical
activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. Yet physical
activity tends to decline during the teen years. Many teens drop
out of organized sports and participation in daily physical
education classes is a thing of the past.
But given the opportunity and interest, teens can reap health
benefits from almost any activity they enjoy, from skateboarding,
in-line skating, yoga, swimming, dancing, or kicking a footbag in
the driveway. Weight training, under supervision of a qualified
adult, can improve strength and help prevent
sports injuries
.
Teens can work physical activity into everyday routines, such as
walking to school, doing chores, or finding an active part-time
job. They can take be camp counselors, babysitters, or assistant
coaches for young sports teams, jobs that come with a chance
to be active.
Motivating Teens to Be Active
Teens face many new social and academic pressures in addition to
dealing with emotional and physical changes. Studies show that
teens on average spend more than 6 hours a day on various media,
including watching TV, listening to music, surfing online, and
playing video games. It's not surprising that teens can't
seem to find the time to exercise and many parents can't
motivate them to be active.
Parents should try to give teens control over how they decide to
be physically active. Teens are defining themselves as
individuals and want the power to make their own decisions, so
they're reluctant to do yet another thing they're told to
do. Emphasize that it's not
what
they do; they just need to be physically active regularly.
Once they get started, many teens enjoy the feeling of
well-being, reduced
stress
, and increased strength and energy they get from exercise, and
then might gravitate to exercise without nudging from a
parent.
To keep teens motivated the activities have to be fun.
Support your teen's choices by providing equipment,
transportation, and companionship. Peers can play an influential
role in teens' lives, so create opportunities for them to be
active with their friends.
Help your teen stay active by finding an exercise regimen that
fits with his or her schedule. Your teen may not have time to play
a team sport at school or in a local league, but many gyms offer
teen memberships, and kids may be able to squeeze in a visit before
or after school. Your teen might also feel more comfortable doing
home exercise videos. If transportation is an obstacle, try
coordinating your teen's exercise schedule with your own.
And all teens should limit the time spent in sedentary
activities, including watching TV and using the computer.
When to Speak With Your Doctor
If you're concerned about your teen's fitness, speak
with your doctor. Teens who are
overweight
or very sedentary may need to start slowly and the doctor may be
able to recommend programs or help you devise a fitness plan.
A teen with a chronic health condition or disability should not
be excluded from fitness activities. Some activities may need to be
modified or adapted, and some may be too risky. Consult your doctor
about which activities are safe.
And some teens may overdo it when it comes to fitness. Young
athletes, particularly those involved in gymnastics, wrestling, or
dance, may face pressures to lose weight. If your teen refuses to
eat certain food groups (such as fats), becomes overly concerned
with body image, appears to be
exercising compulsively
, or experiences a sudden change in weight, talk with your
doctor.
Another dangerous issue is the use of
steroids
, particularly in sports where size and strength are valued. Talk
with your doctor if you suspect your teen is using steroids or
other performance-enhancing substances.
Finally, speak with your doctor if your teen complains of pain
during sports and exercise.
Fitness for Everyone
Everyone can benefit from being physically fit. Staying fit can
help improve self-esteem and decrease the risk of serious illnesses
(such as heart disease and stroke) later in life. In addition,
regular physical activity can help teens learn to meet physical and
emotional challenges they face every day.
Help your teen commit to fitness by being a positive role
model and exercising regularly, too. For fitness activities you can
enjoy together, try bike rides, hitting a tennis ball around, going
to a local swimming pool, or even playing games like capture the
flag and touch football. Not only are you working together to reach
your fitness goals, it's a great opportunity to stay connected
with your teen.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: August 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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