The latest research into childhood obesity has highlighted a stronger link to improvements through exercise rather than through diet.
Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) studied more
than 700 primary school children over four years in the 'Lifestyle of our
Kids' (LOOK) longitudinal study. LOOK involved 734 children aged 8 - 12 years over a four year period. During the study, physical activity was measured objectively with
pedometers and accelerometers. Body fat was measured using body fat dual
emission x-ray absorptiometry, and dietary intake was measured by
nutritionists using the methods employed by the CSIRO in national
surveys.
Professor Richard Telford , chief researcher said "Children with a higher proportion of body fat, even those considered
obese, did not consume more kilojoules - they did not eat more fat,
carbohydrate or sugar - than those who were lean."
The study was carefully controlled to reduce the likelihood of misreporting food intake, including interviews
with children and parents, as well as written records of daily intake
and careful measurement of quantities.
Exercise includes the usual sports, or anything that kids find fun while moving, games like hide and seek or other chasing games can be fun, but if the kids just want to stay indoors, try to design your own dance routines to music or try one of these if your artistic flair is a little pooped.
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