It may not look like anything to jump for joy about at first glance, but those following the campaign to reduce childhood obesity are buoyed by a new study following kids in California.
Published in this month?s American Heart Journal, the report shows that the rate of obesity among children in fifth, seventh and ninth grades grew by .33 percent between 2003 and 2008. That?s down from previous rates of .8 and 1.7 percents.
?The slowdown in obesity rates and the improvements in physical fitness might be an early sign of a turning point in childhood obesity,? the authors of the study wrote.
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It correlates with the California Department of Education?s campaign to address obesity and fitness in public schools.
Even better, the authors said, was the jump in fitness levels, especially aerobic capacity. In 2006, California public schools started requiring 200 minutes of physical education per 10 days for kids in fifth grade and younger and 400 minutes for kids in grades six and up.
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Students? fitness levels improved in every area except abdominal strength, according to the tests. The number of kids who met standards in all six categories jumped from 28.98 percent in 2003 to 34.84 percent in 2008.
To start reversing the upward trend, the authors think focusing on the youngest kids might be most effective.
Meanwhile, a study published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that for adults, both weight and fitness are important for heart health.
Photo credit: Corbis
Article source: http://news.discovery.com/human/california-children-120308.html
This entry was posted in Children Fitness and tagged children fitness. Bookmark the permalink.Source: http://www.childrenhealthwizard.com/kids-in-california-fatter-but-fitter
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