Jumping Rope to Combat Childhood Obesity
WPH Press
Each Wednesday the WPH features the WPH Wednesday Workout, designed to help you become a stronger, fitter, faster, and better handball player. From leg and shoulder strengthening exercises to HIT Training, biking, surfing, balance, footwork, agility, coordination, first-step explosiveness, hydration, cooling down, upper body strengthening, circuit training, altitude training, swimming, jogging, and much more, the WPH Wednesday Workouts focus on the areas that every handball player needs to reach their peak form.
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On this WPH Wednesday Workout, we’ll define childhood obesity, examine the alarming statistics, discuss jumping rope for kids and the importance of kids developing and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.
Most handball players have children, and as we all know, there is nothing more important to us than the health, safety, and well being of our children. With obesity reaching epidemic proportions, we need to educate ourselves on how to ensure that our children are healthy, active, and psychologically well.
The World Health Organization HERE defines obesity as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight and 30 is obese.
According to the CDC HERE, the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in the U.S. in 19.3%, meaning that one in every five children and adolescents are obese in the U.S. Since 1975, obesity in children and adolescents has risen from 4% to 19.3%, yet we have been told to worry about wearing masks.
What can we do to combat this epidemic? The NCBI HERE states that the combination of diet, exercise, physiological factors, and psychological factors are the keys to obesity prevention.
Let’s tackle exercise in Part 1 of Combating Obesity in Kids. Kids should be active before they can even walk. Exercise should be ingrained in children from a very early age – no age is too young. The best way to prevent obesity is to never become obese. All children (and adults) should be exercising for a minimum of 60 minutes per day, along with a healthy diet that includes little to no sugar, no fried or processed food, and plenty of greens, fruit, and lean protein.
Childhood Obesity Infographic. Statistic and prevalence in the world of overweight children. Flat Art Vector illustration
Jumping Rope to Combat Childhood Obesity
The Wall Street Journal HERE featured China’s childhood aptitude test as China’s mandatory preemptive obesity tool in grade school. China is well known for its rigorous academic standards and has now added jumping rope to its aptitude test, which along with math and language exams, separates children into the ultra-competitive slots for universities. First grade boys must complete 99 jumps in 60 seconds, while first grade girls must complete 103 jumps in 60 seconds.
Jumping rope is a great way for children to develop endurance, build leg strength and dexterity, balance, timing, improved coordination, build bone density, burn calories, and develop sustained focus and concentration. And, you can jump alongside your child! All you need are two jump ropes. Start with five minutes per day and set goals. Time yourselves each day for 60 seconds, and see if you can improve your score each day. Remember, a six-year old should be able to jump at least 100 times in 60 seconds. If you and your child are inexperienced jump ropers and can only make 15 jumps in a minute, do not worry, it’s like riding a bike and you’ll improve with practice.
Check out the WPH Wednesday Workout Jumping Rope HERE
David Fink
WPH Fitness Director