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When It Comes to Getting Girls to Exercise, Mom and Dad Should Just Do It
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Posted on: 11/11/2003
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Overall, American kids are getting less and less exercise. Nationally, more than 60 percent of kids don't get enough physical activity. This means kids are getting fatter. They are also developing the health problems that go along with being a couch potato. Girls are even less likely to be physically active than boys. What can moms and dads do to get their daughters moving?
This study looked at the kinds of things parents do that help young girls be active. They questioned 180 nine-year-old girls and their parents about activities, health, and exercise. In addition to the questions, the researchers tested the girls' fitness and checked their height and weight. All the families were part of a larger study on girls' health. All the girls were white and lived with two parents. In general, the parents were well educated and had good incomes.
The researchers were especially interested in the ways moms and dads were different in their support of physical activity. Moms were more likely to sign the girls up for sports, get them there, and cheer them on. Dads were more likely to plan physical family outings or play active games.
It didn't seem to matter which kind of support the girls got. As long as at least one parent supported exercise, girls were more likely to be active. It also didn't make any difference if the supportive parent was the mother or the father. In families where one parent was supportive, 56 percent of girls were active. When two parents were supportive, 70 percent of the girls were had high activity levels. These families tended to be good fitness role models, too. When neither parent was supportive, only 32 percent of the girls were physically active. It was no surprise that these girls tended to be
heavier, too.
The researchers note that physical activity levels do a nose-dive when kids reach adolescence. They suggest future research to see how parents' roles affect girls during this important time. They also suggest that future research study different kinds of families--minority, lower income, or single-parent.
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References:
Kirsten Krahnstoever Davison, et al. Parents' Activity-Related Parenting Practices Predict Girls' Physical Activity. In Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. September 2003. Vol. 35. No. 9. Pp. 1589-1595.
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*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. |
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