Physical activity in kids to prevent diseases

New studies have found that that when children increase physical activity they experience positive health benefits like lesser body fat, increased muscular strength and reduction in risk factor for diseases like diabetes, heart attacks and other lifestyle-related disorders in later life.

In the study, the obese kids were split into two groups, one who exercised 6 hours a day (swimming, running, cycling and ping pong) and the other group who continued with their normal lives. Both groups had a calorie intake of 1600 to 2000 per day. The average weight loss in children in the first group 9that exercised) was 6 to 8 kilograms in six weeks.

David Nieman, who was involved with the study says, ‘All of that exercise and weight loss combined to bring most of the risk factors down. Their blood pressure went down, and insulin sensitivity improved. They had a reduction in total cholesterol. So the overall metabolic health of these children improved in just six weeks’.

Physical activity and calorie intake during childhood, especially overweight children, should be encouraged to prevent future development of serious medical conditions.

Dr. Ajay Sati.