Kids In Gym
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday November 4, 2003
Parents are being encouraged to try local gyms to boost their kids' fitness.
NSW Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Sandra Nori has launched the first-ever guidelines for gyms and fitness centres aimed at encouraging more activities run specifically for kids.
With almost one in four children now classified as obese or overweight, parents will have an added confidence that there will be a safe haven for their children to get active - with fitness staff undergoing rigorous child specific training and child protection checks.
These guidelines are to help commercial and community fitness and leisure centres provide a range of safe and high quality physical activity programs for healthy children and young adolescents aged between five and 16 years.
Ms Nori said while many gyms and fitness centres do currently run a range of activities for kids, these new guidelines set consistent standards of instructor education and practical training in areas including:
n rigorous child specific training,
n child protection checks,
n childhood nutrition,
n how to structure a fun class to encourage regular attendance,
n age limits on the use of weight based activities and equipment,
n modified gym equipment suitable for children,
n staff to child ratios for good supervision,
n medical checks for children to identify health issues such as asthma.
Commercial fitness providers are well placed to offer children and young adolescents safe and enjoyable physical activity opportunities. However, because of the vulnerability of young people, specific guidelines are required to maximise their safety and wellbeing while they are attending physical activity programs.
Fitness NSW reports that the industry is keen to embrace the guidelines and hopes they will be picked up nationally.
"Many parents tell me that they are now more anxious than ever before about the safety of their children with regard to both stranger danger and traffic safety," Ms Nori said.
"Parents are less comfortable with children walking and playing in their local neighbourhood, which means less opportunity for active play.
"Exhausted, busy parents who are working longer hours have less time to play with their children and are looking for opportunities that can provide the whole family with a fun, safe way to get active."
Ms Nori said some fitness centres were already showcasing best practice.
Newcastle's Howzat has adopted this whole family approach. The gym runs an exciting physical activity program for children.
While the kids are exercising at Howzat, parents have opportunities to get fit at the same time.
The new State guidelines will also set standards for more
community-based exercise venues such as PCYCs and schools.
They were developed by the Children's Hospital Institute of Sports Medicine based at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and peak industry body FitnessNSW.
The aim is to increase opportunities for children and young
adolescents to participate in physical activity programs, and that more children and young adolescents will participate in such
programs as a result.
Childhood obesity
fact sheet
n Around a quarter of Australian children are considered to be overweight or obese.
n In the decade from 1985 to 1995 the number of overweight or obese children in Australia nearly doubled, while the levels of obesity tripled in all age groups.
n Obese children have a 25-50% chance of progression to adult obesity - and it may be as high as 78% in older obese adolescents.
n Modern lifestyle has seen a reduction in both voluntary and incidental activity.
The health
implications
n Overweight/obese children are more likely in the short term to develop gastrointestinal, endocrine or certain orthopaedic problems and cardiovascular disease in the longer-term.
n Other complications related to obesity include asthma and sleep disorders.
n Childhood obesity is costing Australia $830 million a year in health costs, but the personal cost is also enormous for children.
Possible causes
of obesity
n Generally caused by lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of the two, with genetics and lifestyle both playing important roles in determining a child's weight.
n Data from the NSW Child Health Survey 2001 found 40% of children aged 5-12 years reportedly watched two hours or more of television or videos/DVD's a day on average, and 15% are reported to play computer games for an hour or more a day.
n Readily available high fat and high-energy foods that are sophistically marketed towards children.
n Less active transport.
n Urban environment including smaller backyards.
n Perception that the local area is unsafe.
© 2003 Newcastle Herald