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William
Dietz, MD, PhD
Director
of the division of nutrition and physical activity
with the CDC
"There's no question that this has reached
epidemic proportions. Since 1980, the percentage
of American children who are overweight has
doubled and the percentage of adolescents who
are overweight has nearly tripled.".
Melindra
Southern, PhD
Director
of the Childhood Obesity Laboratory at Louisiana
State University
"It's no coincidence that the same two
decades that brought us soaring obesity rates
also brought us cable TV, home computers, the
proliferation of fast-food restaurants and the
verb "supersize." Add to it that many
schools no longer offer recess or physical education;
school lunches are high in fat and calories;
and there are vending machines with junk food
that you can eat anywhere and everywhere."
"It's
not primarily the family's fault that childhood
obesity rates are rising; we live in an environment
that causes and promotes obesity. But the fact
is, the family has to do something about it."
Judy
Young, PhD
Executive
director of the National Association for Sport
and
Physical Education in Reston, Virginia
"The best advice is to start exercising
with your children as early as possible.
Infants
need to practice reaching, rolling over, sitting,
crawling and walking, Get your kids out of their
car seat, carrier or stroller often."
Lori
B. Wasserberger M.D.,
Physiatrist,
Sports & Spine Associates
"National studies have shown that exercise
habits established in childhood are likely to
assist in maintaining a physically active lifestyle
throughout adolescence and adulthood, and may
contribute to improved lifetime health."
"The best thing parents can do for their
kids is to engage them in active play. Parents
should encourage their children to be active
instead of seeking a sedentary lifestyle."
Bruce
Perry MD, PhD
"Experiences in childhood act as the primary
architects of the brain's capabilities throughout
the rest of life. If these organizing childhood
experiences are consistent and nurturing."
Dr. Perry's advice for busy parents is this
-- "As often as you can stop everything,
don't answer the phone, don't think about your
next agenda item. Get down on your child's level
and engage them. The younger they are, the more
direct time the child needs."
Jody
Jenses, PhD
Associate
professor of kinesiology at the University of
Texas at Austin
"The most effective way to keep children
active through the teen years and into adulthood
is to be sure they learn good motor skills and
sport skills during childhood."
Bob
Condor
Chicago
Tribune (taken from national Institute
of Child Health and Human Development)
"American third-graders engage
in less than 25 minutes of vigorous
or moderate physical activity, on average,
per week during physical education classes.
The standard health recommendation for
all of us, especially children, is 30
to 60 minutes of at least moderate physical
activity each day. So parents are left
to make up the remaining minimum of
185 minutes a week in their children's
lives."
Marilyn
Elias
USA
Today
"A soaring number of the USA's
children are overweight, but many of
their mothers don't know it: About a
third of those with heavy children believe
their kids are at a normal weight, a
federal survey reports today."
"Greater
awareness could be a helpful first step
in curbing childhood obesity, says L.
Michele Maynard of the nutrition and
physical activity at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Ann
Kearney-Cooke
Psychologist,
eating-disorders expert
"Dieting in childhood is destructive.
Six-year-olds should not be reading
the fat content on labels. This kind
of thing leads to binges eating disorders,
Instead, parents should emphasize physical
activity and well-balanced diets."
Jeffrey
P. Koplan
Director
of the CDC
"Obesity is an epidemic and should
be taken as seriously as any infectious
disease epidemic. Obesity and overweight
are linked to the national's number
on killer - heart disease - as well
as diabetes and other chronic conditions.
A national effort is needed to control
the epidemic.
Peter
Kopelman
Royal
London School of Medicine
"Obesity should no longer be regarded
simply as a cosmetic problem affecting
certain individuals, but as an epidemic
that threatens global well-being."
Dr. Perry's advice for busy parents
is this -- "As often as you can
stop everything, don't answer the phone,
don't think about your next agenda item.
Get down on your child's level and engage
them. The younger they are, the more
direct time the child needs."
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Jim Browne is a graduate of
Boston College, N.S.C.A. certified personal
trainer and former NFL player. He believes his
dedication and commitment to physical training is
what propelled him into the NFL.
Dr.
Martin Levin O.D. received his Doctor of
Optometry degree from Indiana University in 1973,
and has practiced continually in Northville,
Michigan for 30 years. One of his specialties is
in the study of children's vision.
Mollene
Levin is a graduate of Wayne State
University with a Bachelors of Science degree in
Education. Through her experience as an
elementary schools teacher, childhood
competitive dancer, and mother of two, she has
seen first hand the value of exercise beginning
at young ages.
Workout
1 is designed
for infants from 6 weeks old until they are
able to walk. It focuses on flexibility and
muscle awareness.