Children spend huge amounts of their free time, sleeping, watching TV, playing video games and surfing the internet. In such a scenario, childhood obesity is a major cause of concern as it is a major risk factor for disease such as diabetes, hypertension and elevated blood cholestrol. It also tends to lead to adult obesity and overweight adolescents may suffer long-term social discrimination.
With the risks associated with childhood obesity it is necessary to redirect children's energies towards physical activity. Benefits include:
- Reduction in the risk associated with childhood obesity
- Helping children build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints
- Teaching them the skills needed for social interaction
- Helping them learn to problem solve, as issues may arise while playing
- Reducing feelings of depression and anxiety
- Enhancing a child's self-esteem by helping increase the level of confidence, assertiveness, emotional stability, independence, and self control.
Research done on the brain suggest that what makes us move is also what makes us think. Physical activity builds the framework for cognition and brain development which increases the capacity to learn, and assist in the development and refinement of perceptual abilities involving vision and balance.