Web produced by: Jessica Noll
It’s a fact – obesity is on the rise, especially for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 percent of children ages 6-19 are considered overweight or obese – a number that has tripled over the past 30 years. And this trend only seems to be increasing each year as children seem to be much more inactive – watching more television, playing video games and sitting around on the computer for hours at a time.
Sadly, being overweight (and obese) has many difficult physical and emotional consequences, especially for children. Children who are overweight are at a much higher risk for medical problems that could affect them life long, such as Diabetes, Sleep Apnea, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Cancer, Respiratory Problems and the list goes on.
Overweight children are also often subject to emotional problems because they are often teased by others, resulting in low self esteem and feelings of isolation.
In addition, the United States Department of Health and Human Services states that overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. And this increases to 80 percent if one or more parent is overweight or obese.
Childhood Obesity is an epidemic today and the effects are extremely disturbing. Locally, Town & Country Sports & Health Club is taking a lead role to combat these alarming statistics by helping both children and their families get active and stay active.
Town & Country has recently introduced more kids’ activities in addition to its already kid-friendly amenities to help children get more involved while their parents work out.
Town & Country is now the first facility in the country to offer so many fitness activities and amenities for children. In addition to Town & Country’s Rock Climbing Wall, Aeroball (a trampoline game), Tubes N Tunnels, Kids Gym, Indoor Pools, and the area’s only Kids Power Equipment – they have now introduced the new Kids Exercise Arcade, which is an interactive area for children to stay active, while having fun.
This new area is complete with a Sportswall (a wall-mounted individual or group game in which the goal is to strike the lighted up targets using sports balls), Wii Sports & Fit (interactive fitness video games), Video Game Bikes (bikes/equipment that feature a computer that gives you exercise results along with the excitement of competing in games), Viper Rope Climber (a Rope Climbing Exercise Machine), Dance Dance Revolution (a musical video game, which players stand on a "dance platform" and hit colored arrows laid out in a cross with their feet to musical and visual cues), and Cardio Stepper & Cardio Rower (Cardio Equipment especially designed for children).
In addition to these new and existing amenities for kids of all ages and those kids at heart, Town & Country has recently introduced a variety of Junior Programs to help children to learn how to operate the new equipment correctly, to get them involved in a more structured environment, and to help kids socialize with other kids.
Town & Country Sports & Health Club feels that it is extremely important to keep children active and healthy and to have fun while doing it.
These new additions for children are just a few steps Town & Country is taking to help fight against the Childhood Obesity Epidemic. Children who become active and healthy now have a much better chance of continuing these healthy habits through adulthood…and passing these habits on.
For information on how to get your family involved in an exercise program, contact Town & Country at (859) 442-5800 or visit their Web site at TownCountrySports.com.
