The Effects Of Video Games On Children 's Health

There is an abundance of support to provide daily physical education in our schools. First Lady Michelle Obama (2010) stated that she will lead a national initiative to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic. In her initiative, she mentioned the intervention of increasing physical activity to change this epidemic (Obama, 2010). In fact, Healthy People 2020 has objectives to increase the portion of the America’s private and public schools that require daily physical education U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2011). There is also a national

Physical activity has not only physical benefits. It also has a very big impact on social-emotional and cognitive aspects of child’s live. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “The development of a physically active lifestyle is a goal for all children. Traditional team and competitive sports may promote healthy activity for selected youth. Individual sports, noncompetitive sports, lifetime sports, and recreational activities expand the opportunity for activity to everyone. The opportunity to be active on a regular basis, as well as the enjoyment and competence gained from activity, may increase the chances that a physically active lifestyle will be adopted.”

Physical activity also has benefits for children's social and emotional development and cognitive development. These benefits include being part of a team and making friends through group sports, which have a major impact on social and emotional development. The effect of obesity on children is closely linked to many bad health habits such as diet, smoking and drug use which in turn can affect a child's academic performance (Goran et al., 1999). Physical activity, if encouraged at a young age, can reduce the likelihood of children developing these behaviours and focus on their academic performance and cognitive development. As children in this age range are in their fundamental development stage, it is important that educators and parents alike, teach children about the importance of physical activity at a young age in order to prevent health and social well-being problems in their adult years.

Millions of children engage in different types of physical activities and sports around the world. Being involved in these programs provides many health benefits and aids in life long physical skills. Through participation in sports and physical activities, children gain friendships and learn how to cooperate and interact with other children. Participating and sports also provides openings for children to develop characteristics and values that are beneficial to personal growth as they mature.

“Sibley et al. (2003) con- ducted a meta-analysis showing a positive correlation between physical activity and seven categories of cognitive performance (perceptual skills, intelligence quotient, achievement, verbal tests, mathematics tests, developmental level/ academic readiness, and other) among school-aged children” (Sattelmair & Ratley, 2009). This positive correlation provides much more evidence towards the benefits of physical activity and the classroom as it shows the exact levels of cognitive performance that are positively affected. In addition, a cross sectional study was completed showing the positive correlations of performance on physical fitness tests and exercise levels, involving eight thousand school-children. (Although this study and other studies discussed in this article show positive correlations, it is important to remember that correlation does not prove causation). This research also brings to mind the problem of obesity as well. Educating students on the importance of moving and physical activity can influence obesity as well. If students are more aware of the cognitive health benefits of physical activity, they will realize the reason obesity is a problem, much past the idea of physical looks. “Physical activity presents a physiological stress to the brain that, when balanced with recovery, promotes adaptation and growth,

Despite this popular belief, the class of physical education truly is beneficial for students at the elementary level. Most kids like to run around and have a good time, which is exactly what physical education is for. As shown in the graph from “Percentage of Youth Who Were Physically Active, By Number of Days Per Week and Sex,” only about twenty percent of adolescents were active five days per week. By keeping the physical education program, students will participate in five days of physical activity per week, which is a healthy amount. If students play on sports teams instead of physical education, they may only have two or three days of physical activity per week. Additionally, the five days of activity per week could help lower obesity rates which was shown to be nearly twenty percent in adolescents ages twelve to nineteen in the graph “Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and Adolescents Aged 2-19, by Sex and Age: United

Limited Physical Education: According to data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), in 2011 only 51.8 % of high school students were enrolled in physical education classes, and only 28.4% attended physical education class daily (7). Also, it is found that as student go on to a higher grade, their participation in physical activity goes on decreasing due to increased burden of studies. In higher grades, it becomes difficult for students to manage their time between school, assignments and outdoor activities(7). In US, the current problem is that 37% students do not participate in vigorous physical

Unicef illustrates, "Sport is a good-entry point for the promotion of life skills-based education and healthy lifestyles, including the values of physical fitness, proper nutrition and how to make choices that positively impact health." In other words, Unicef believes that sports assist an individual in all aspects of life, whether it is physical, mental, or life skills oriented. Simply put, participating in a sport has multiple benefits that can be applied to everyday life. For this exact reason, sports should be implemented mandatory in public schools. Although some parents believe that sports have more consequences than benefits, the physical activity included in athletics is proven to increase child health. Accordingly, there are articles such as, "Younger Kids. Longer Seasons. More Injuries," conclude that children should lay off physical activity due to the ever-looming threat of injuries and children are safer and better off staying away from sports. On the flip side, articles such as, "Why Sport and Play," list the boons of the physical activity involved in sports. I assert that sports should be mandatory in public schools because it offers benefits that children should not go without. I wholeheartedly endorse the making a student participate in at least one sport can benefit a student 's mental and physical health, grades, and school attendance.

Exercise and physical sport are fundamental to the early development of children and youth. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that shows the positive effects of sport and exercise on physical health. While physical education provides a good basis for healthy exercise habits, sports further this knowledge and push the child to exercise even more. “Exercise in general controls weight by burning calories, improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, placing a lower strain on the heart, and increases an athlete 's energy level while improving the quality of sleep” (Center for Disease…, 3) Organized sports and exercise in general can have a tremendous impact on children. Children who participate in sports are taught at

Physical Education offers students the knowledge of physical activity and exercise. With these things comes so many opportunities like being able to prepare ones self for a future full of health and well-being (JOPERD “Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs…”, 9). The goal of physical education which if successful will achieve five standards. Standard number five states that “the physically literate individual recognizes the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction” (National standards). This standard proves that the future of the student’s health starts in Physical Education and once the educators start enforcing this standard better the future of physical education is change drastically. There will be a complete turnaround because the profession of teaching as a whole will start realizing what the mission of Physical is not just to have kids run around but to give the knowledge and skills to be physically literate in their

Kirk Disrude, a volunteer for the American Heart Association, stated this about a child’s physical education, “Ensuring that quality physical education is implemented across our country is a lifesaving measure for the youth of our country. Now is the time to invest in physical education. We need to improve both health and (the) well-being of our youth and their overall cognitive functioning (SOURCE #2).” This quote should stand out to us as a nation. Major issues in this nation include cancer, drugs, violence, pollution, global warming, and conflicts with other nations, but one of the hottest problems that sticks out in the United States is known as obesity. Obesity is defined as someone who is overweight. This is not the only problem with obesity. From 1971 to 2011, the obesity in children has tripled and that concerns parents as that is the number one health concern to them. For that reason, kids see themselves with a negative body and have low self-esteem.(SOURCE #6). Kids also become obese by not acquiring the exercise they need because many schools do not offer the classes or at home. Only 3.8% of elementary schools, 7.9% of middle schools, and 2.1% of high school offer a physical education class. In addition to this, 22% of the United States schools do not offer a physical education class at all.(SOURCE #2) Those numbers should not that be low. The schools should not be shooting down physical education instead schools should encourage its students to go out and play for the full hour. Even at home, 61.5% of kids between the ages of nine through thirteen do not participate in any physical activity with an organization and 22.6% of them do not play in any organization as school is not in session (SOURCE#7). Many benefits of exercising or doing a physical activity include decreasing the chance of having type two diabetes, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and having stronger muscles and bones (SOURCE #1). The rate of obesity for kids has risen the past couple of years; however, that can change when children should and need to receive at least one hour of exercise a day every day.

Promoting excellent health can be a major outcome from making physical education apart of every child’s lifestyle. The student will learn at a young age how important staying fit and in shape is while taking those lessons with them and executing them later in life. It also advocates healthy eating and an improvement in lifestyle altogether. Bringing habits like these home can also affect the family. Encouraging the whole family to eat and exercise better can be a result from making physical education mandatory. Whether it be more family activities in the backyard, or taking a trip to skyzone to enjoy a day of flips, jumps and friendly dodgeball games, the whole family would have been inspired to become physically active. “Kids are getting fatter. Obesity rate over the last 30 years have more than quadrupled for children ages 6 to 11 and more than tripled for youths ages 12 to 19. Our children and youths are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even asthma.”

In order to meet the needs of today’s youth they must first meet the recommended amount of physical activity. The U.S. department of health and human services recommends that young people aged 6-17 years participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. However, devoting five hours to physical activity in the term of physical education is not realistic in schools it is important to keep in mind other sources of physical activity like after school activities and recess. However, it is important that students get some time devoted to physical education everyday because some students do not receive physical activity after school due to changes in social norms. According to the Center of Disease

If physical fitness was taken seriously at young age then there would be a major change in the way that children view physical fitness in america. In American physical fitness often is not made as big of a priority as grades. Often times parents and teachers tell their children to focus on their academics, but very seldom do they mention anything about physical fitness. In the

Thesis: There are coexisting links between physical education in a school environment and the rising health concerns of our society.