DOH urges parents, exercise crucial for kids aged 5 to 10

Parents may want to heed this advice from the Department of Health: keep your young children physically active. Especially for those who are going on staycation during the Holy Week, keeping the children occupied and fit should be a priority.   

 

DOH Metro Manila director Eduardo Janairo on Friday urged parents of children aged five to 10 to encourage physical activity and regular exercise.

 

“Let us start our children early to value the importance of physical activity like riding bikes, playing tag, or playing ball. It helps keep the balance the body needs in burning the excess fats stored in the body,” Janairo said.

 

He particularly advised parents to supervise how their children spend their time, noting that many children today lead a sedentary lifestyle.

 

Janairo lamented how these sedentary children spend time in front of the TV, computer, or playing videogames, and spending less time active.

 

Worse, he said, busy modern families have less time to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals.

 

"The trend today is fast food and electronics,” he added.

 

The DOH noted an overweight childhood and obesity are associated with non-communicable diseases such as "diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, respiratory illnesses and even cancer."

 

“Preventing children from becoming overweight means providing them with healthy meals and snacks, encouraging daily physical activity and educating them on proper nutrition and weight control. Early awareness of on nutrition and healthy eating habits helps in leading healthy lifestyle practices and away from unnecessary illnesses,” Janairo said.

 

A DOH news release cited data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute's 2011 Updating Survey on the Nutritional Status of Filipinos, which showed eight out of every 100 children aged 0 to five are overweight and obese.

 

Metro Manila has the most number of obese and overweight children compared to other regions of the country at 6.2 percent, the survey said.

 

Janairo said exercise at an early age can build endurance and strengthen muscles and bones, while helping control body fat and lessens the chance of becoming overweight.

 

Children can also sleep well and can better handle physical and emotional challenges at home and in school, he added. – KDM, GMA News