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July 16th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda MONDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) — Teens who play on three or
more sports teams are much less likely to be overweight or obese than
their peers who don’t play a sport, new research finds.
The study also found that high school students who walk or ride a bike
to school are less likely to be obese — but not less likely to be
overweight — than their bus-riding counterparts. And, the research shows
that school physical education programs don’t alter the risk of obesity or
of being overweight.
“If parents are truly interested in preventing overweight and obesity,
getting their kids to join one or more sports teams may be an effective
way to do that,” said the study’s lead author, Keith Drake, a postdoctoral
research fellow at the Hood Center for Children and Families at the Geisel
School of Medicine at Dartmouth College in Lebanon, N.H.
“It really might be worth all that driving you’ll have to do, because
playing sports has a healthy impact on weight,” Drake said.
In the United States, more than one-third of high school students are
overweight or obese, according to background information in the study.
Results of the study, released online July 16, will be published in the
August print issue of Pediatrics.
The study, conducted through telephone surveys, included more than
1,700 high school students from New Hampshire and Vermont and their
parents. They were asked about extracurricular activities and sports,
transportation to school, and their TV and computer habits. Other
questions covered weight, height, diet quality and family demographics,
such as race and parental education.
Almost 30 percent (498 teens) were overweight or obese. Thirteen
percent were obese, according to the study.
The researchers found that playing on three or more sports teams, which
have regular practices and competitions, was linked to a 27 percent lower
risk of being overweight and a 39 percent lower risk of obesity compared
to kids who didn’t play sports at all.
Riding a bike or walking to school 3.5 days or more a week lowered
obesity risk by 33 percent compared to those who never bicycled or walked
to school, the study found. There was no association between active
commuting and a lower risk of being overweight, however.
Drake said it was likely that active commuting just didn’t provide
enough physical activity to lower the risk of being overweight. The same
seemed true of physical education classes.
Another expert, Dana Rofey, an assistant professor of pediatrics and
the director of behavioral health at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh,
said, “physical education classes generally aren’t consistent enough or
long enough to make a difference in the risk of obesity and overweight.”
But, even if phys-ed classes are infrequent, “any movement is better
than no movement at all,” she added.
Because high school sports participation provides moderate to strenuous
exercise, the researchers estimated that if all teenagers played on two or
more sports teams each year, the rate of obesity would drop by 26 percent.
And, if all teens walked or bicycled to school most days, the authors
believe obesity would decline by about 22 percent.
Drake suggested trying to get kids involved in sports earlier than high
school. “The earlier you start, the more likely you are to stay in it,” he
said.
And, if your kids aren’t natural athletes or especially competitive, he
added, “I believe there is an activity our there for every child, and I
would encourage parents to let them try many activities,” he said. If a
child dislikes baseball, maybe ice skating or dance would be better
activities, he suggested.
Rofey said for kids who really balk at traditional physical activities,
start with just getting them out of the house. Have them volunteer at an
animal shelter. Walking dogs isn’t strenuous exercise, but again, she said
any activity is better than none.
It’s usually helpful if a parent or siblings get involved, too, she
said. “If the family is supportive, and parents lead by example, kids may
be more willing to try an activity,” she said.
More information
For advice on getting your kids to be more active, see the Nemours Foundation.
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