Kids Not into Major Exercise or Sports? There’s Good News!
Written By Savvy Auntie Staff Writers
By Maya Listman
A new study performed by the National Institute of Health shows that even short bouts of activity could lower glucose and insulin levels, and protect children from future health problems.
Researchers studied 28 healthy children over the course of 30 days. The children were split into two groups: active and sedentary. The active children alternated sitting for thirty minutes, with moderately intense walking for three minutes in between, while the sedentary group sat for the full three hours engaging in seated activities. At the next session, the active and sedentary groups switched. The study found that on the days they walked, the children had blood glucose levels that were, on average, 7 percent lower than on the day they spent all 3 hours sitting, and their insulin levels were 32 percent lower.
Keep your nieces and nephews active. Next time you watch TV with them, suggest a run around the block or jumping jacks during commercials. Instead of playing a board game, suggest the park or a nature walk. Next time you help them with their homework, if you notice they spend too much time seated, offer up an active break like walking the dog together.
Photo: sonyae
Published: September 1, 2015