ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It’s no secret that children are spending more time indoors playing on devices. The lack of activity could lead to serious health problems.
According to the CDC, the prevalence of obesity in children aged 2-11 has doubled in the last 25 years. For those aged 12-19, the rate has tripled.
That means about 14 million children are affected by obesity and may be at a higher risk for conditions like diabetes, asthma or joint problems.
One Monroe County program is getting children moving.
Fifth-grader Jaiden Simmons loves racing his friends during gym class. It’s part of the Healthy Hero Camp.
"You learn but in a fun way," said Dr. Liz Kelly, director of the camp "Kids love it and it’ll be fun for them to come here."
Jaiden is one of almost 800 kids attending the camp throughout the summer.
The goal of the Healthy Hero Camp is simple: get kids moving. It’s something camp director Dr. Kelly says is needed.
“Type two diabetes, high blood pressure, those are creeping down into earlier ages," Kelly said. "We need to develop a culture of physical activity.”
She’s not alone in her thinking.
According to a new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 40% of today’s children experienced obesity or being overweight before leaving elementary school. It’s especially prevalent in kids born in the 2000s.
But getting kids up and moving is harder than ever. Between phones, video games and tablets, Dr. Kelly says she’s competing for their attention.
“We have to compete with all of that," said Dr. Kelly. "Fortunately children still love to move and they still love to play with their friends. And so if we provide that environment where they are engaged and this is what they want to do, they can have a tremendous amount of fun.”
She creates that environment by letting kids run around a gym or splash in the pool or even fly through the air on a giant slingshot.
The camp runs for five weeks. In the end, Dr. Kelly hopes the campers leave with the idea that physical activity can be fun.
For kids like Jaiden, that seems like a good possibility.
Outside of summer camp, there are some tips to help you keep your family fit too.
- Sit down for a nutritious meal with your children
- Some research shows they are more likely to enjoy healthy fruits and vegetables in a positive setting
- Incorporate physical activity together, such as family hikes or walks around the neighborhood
- Experts recommend children get about an hour of physical activity every day
- It's also important to set good nighttime routines since healthy sleep can reduce the risk of obesity