Motion Equals Healthy
“As a professional cyclist, I realize that diet and exercise are essential for athletes as well as youth to achieve maximum success on bike and off the bike, said Rahsaan Bahati, President of the Bahati Foundation. “We want to use this platform to encourage our community youth to make better health choices and change their eating habits for healthier lifestyle.”
We see cycling and other physical exercises as part of the solution to the issues of youth health concerning obesity. This is why we have adopted 'Motion Equals Healthy' Initiative to do our part to engage youth in a healthier lifestyle.
BACKGROUND TO INITIATIVE
Childhood obesity still outranks all the health issues as the number one concern for children in the United States of America. While only 35 percent of the adult population believe that childhood obesity as a significant issue in the year 2008 and that number has increased to 42 percent in the year 2009. In the first time in the U.S all the ethnic groups such as the Hispanic, white, black have agreed that obesity is rising concern facing American children. The childhood obesity rates have tripled in the last 25 years, causing many children with diseases like to a report in Academic Pediatrics. Overweight and obese children will also experience a lowered quality of life, an increased likelihood of contracting several severe disorders and even a reduction in life expectancy.
http://www.teenhealthissues.org/
Why physical activity is important. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for mortality.
1. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, breast and colon cancer, and depression.
2. Noting that the more physical active the child the greater the health benefit, specific research showed that physical activity has positive effects on musculoskeletal health, cardiovascular health and mental health.
3. Data from TNO show that the percentage of children and youth meeting the American Physical Activity Guideline (NNGB; to be at least moderately active for at least 60 minutes every day) show a declining trend for the period between 2006 and 2014.
4. For the 4-11 year olds the number of children who are meeting the NNGB has decreased by approximately 10 percent during this period. Furthermore, it seems that the American adolescents are getting more inactive.
For example, there was an increasing trend in the percentage of inactive (when a child is at most moderately physically active for 60 minutes in the span of only 2 days5) 12-17 year olds from 2010 (11%) to 2014 (15%).5 These numbers show the increment of the inactivity crisis among American youth. This is a worrying development because of the negative health effects of being physically inactive.2,3 Promoting physical activity among children and youth remains an important mission.
Contact us for how we can work together and more information.
Rashid BAHATI
Executive Director