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May 10, 2013
Crisis of teen physical inactivity
There are several health, energy, mood and grade-boosting strategies that can help youth.
SHARI FEUZ
The benefits of being physically active during the teen years extend far beyond just health and body weight management yet, unfortunately, most teens are missing out on the good stuff.
A staggeringly low number of Canadian teens meet the daily physical activity requirements. The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) suggests that young people 12 to 17 years old should accumulate at least 60 minutes of vigorous activity every day. Less than seven percent of youth obtain this level. Sixty-two percent of their waking hours are sedentary with Canadian teens surpassing nine hours of inactivity per day.
Social reasons your teen needs to get moving
The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s 2012 survey of local Jewish youth revealed a number of key issues about which youth self-report being concerned. More than half of the youth respondents said they experienced stress over school, homework and their future. In addition, there appears to be a growing number of youth who are struggling with anxiety and depression.
New research shows a wealth of information supporting physical activity as a powerful intervention enhancing both health and positive psychosocial development in youth. The research shows teens that are physically active:
• earn higher grades and exhibit better academic behaviors than their inactive counterparts,
• have higher self-esteem,
• experience less anxiety and depression, and
• have better energy and attentiveness (which supports academic achievement).
Where do teens go if they don’t play a sport or dance?
Playing on a sports team or participating in a dance group is the most common way youth are physically active outside of school-based physical education programs, but not all youth are sporty, enjoy dance or can afford extra-curricular programming. In fact, the problem of inactivity is considerably exaggerated in low-income families.
Sadly, physical activity programming outside of these two areas for 12-to-17-year-olds is almost non-existent and even pro-active parents are at a loss for programs in which to enrol their teens. A review of community programs serving 12-to-17-year-olds at municipal and Jewish community centres across Canada reveals that unless they play sports, martial arts or dance, this age group is minimally served, if at all.
The good news is that teen bootcamp, teen yoga and other teen fitness classes and programs are now emerging at community centres. However, many of the barriers to participation remain: low family income, access to a facility, transportation to a facility, preference for solitary activities, body image, self-esteem and/or obesity issues.
A new approach to enabling and empowering teens to take charge of their fitness is still needed. Parents need to be the movers and shakers for their teens and in their communities where programming is weak.
Subtle ways parents can support active lifestyles
There are several small yet powerful ways that parents can support their teen in enjoying the many benefits of moving more.
1. Recognize that everyone has a unique “fitness personality.” One teen may be drawn to high-energy team activities, while the next may prefer the solitude of a run or weight-training workout. Encourage exploration to find the right match and accept when an activity just doesn’t click.
2. Involve your teen in “fueling” for life. Ensure they have snacks that maintain energy for physical activity and communicate about which foods they enjoy. Involve them in making grocery-shopping lists.
3. Offer little reminders that reinforce that daily activity is a part of everyday life. For example, ask direct questions like: “Did you pack your workout clothes today?” or “Do you have a snack for after your workout today?”
4. Provide non-body-image-related feedback about the immediate and observable results of being active. Examples: “You always have such great energy after your fitness class” or “You have such a healthy glow since you’ve been running regularly.”
5. Work out. Yes, parents who fit regular workouts into their own schedule set an excellent example for their children, demonstrating that planning for and being active is just “what we do.”
Shari Feuz is a freelance health and fitness writer. She has a degree in kinesiology with an interest in the psychosocial aspects of behavior changes as it relates to physical activity. She is the assistant fitness director at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. Thanks to support from a Jewish Community Foundation Grant, Fit Start for Teens launched this spring at the JCCGV. This program features an eight-session curriculum that gives teens the education and tools they need to get started on their personal fitness lifestyle. It features the latest best practices in fitness conditioning and is delivered by a certified fitness leader. As well, the curriculum is specifically designed for inactive teens who do not have any background in dance or sport. Thanks to the JCF grant, those in need of financial assistance are eligible to participate without cost via referral. For more information, call 604-257-5111, ext. 237, or e-mail [email protected].
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