Editorial

Many kids think of the ideal weekend as sitting in front of the computer or T.V. playing some video games and eating some junk food. This could be why more than 15% of all teens in the United States are overweight. More kids and teens need to experience the outdoors. Whether it be going camping or playing some ball with your friends, people need to be doing something active. One survey showed 43% of adolescents watched more than two hours of television per day. That could be time spent in an after school sport or a walk around the closest lake.

Activities to do to help reduce teen obesity:
Play basketball
Play tennis
Play volley ball
Play racket ball
Go to a skate park
Go swimming
Play any ball sports
Running

These can all make a big difference in teen obesity. Additionally there are classes in dance, gymnastics, karate, etc. The idea is to choose something fun and get moving, dancing, jumping, climbing, walking, skating. What you do in your teen years has a big effect on the rest of your life, mostly your health. Another part of it is the food we are consuming. Kids diets often consist of greasy fast food, sugary snacks, and large portion sizes at restaurants. Teens need to be eating whole fruits, whole vegetables and whole grains. Parents need to know the value of choosing whole grain breads rather than white. Without this healthy change of diet it can result in risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 Diabetes. This epidemic needs to stop now. Teens need to be out doing something active and fun instead of sitting in their house all day. So what are you waiting for, go out and have some fun!