Why children need to exercise

According to statistics from the World Health Organisation, complications such as diabetes and obesity are fast rising among children and this is mainly attributed to their lifestyles.

Regular intake of sugary foods such as cakes, ice cream and chocolate has proven to be a gateway to disease.
Schools are trying to build the spirit of exercising among children through physical education but still more needs to be done outside school confines.

Carol Nakalungi, a mother of two teenagers, says she never thought children needed to exercise and she never emphasised it at all not until her daughter started putting on excess weight in primary school.

“At school they would only train when it was approaching sports day. This was not enough physical fitness activity, considering sports day is once a year.”

Nakalungi goes on to explain that it took her a long time to realise that her weekend treats of fast foods was also a contributing factor.

It was when her daughter could barely walk a short distance from a nearby shop to home that she took a decision to make changes.

“Alongside prescriptions, physical exercise such as jogging, long walks and support from the family she was finally able to get fit,” Nakalungi says.

Persis Namugenyi, a physical education teacher at Luweero Secondary School, says parents tend to leave even simple things such as children fitness to teachers. What many guardians and parents seem to forget is that teachers have limited time to offer the children all the attention they need given the large numbers.

Namugenyi adds that exercises keep the body fit, alert and free from stress, which are ideal for a child to concentrate in class and grasp all that is taught.

Ivan Kiwanuka a fitness instructor at LB’Z gym advises that children can do simple exercises such as jogging, aerobics, stretching and sit-ups. These, however, should be at short intervals and under parental supervision.

“It is uncommon for children to go to the gym and exercise because the machines there are designed for grownups,” Kiwanuka says.

He, however, says this should not be used as an excuse because simple exercises can be undertaken at home.

Doctors’ say
Dr Sabrina Kitaka, a paediatrician at Mulago hospital, says exercising is important for everyone, children inclusive as it helps them remain healthy and active in their brains.

“Exercise helps improve body coordination and builds stronger muscles and when accompanied by proper rest, it increases brain power which improves a child’s attention span and allows them to be physically relaxed and mentally alert at the same time,” Dr Kitaka says.

Dr Richard Kalungi, a general practitioner at Royal Healthcare, Kawempe adds that exercise is important because children too are likely to suffer from obesity, a health complication as a result of excessive body weight.

“Simple daily exercises recommended by a health practitioner are essential for children to keep in shape and not risk easily avoidable health complications such as obesity,” Dr Kalungi recommends.

Remember
Some physical activity is better-suited for children. For example, children do not usually need formal muscle-strengthening programmes, such as lifting weights. Younger children usually strengthen their muscles when they do gymnastics, play on a jungle gym or climb trees.

As children grow older and become adolescents, they may start structured weight programmes. For example, they may do these types of programmes along with their football or basketball team practice.