Fighting back through fitness

The Times of Malta – Matthew Muscat Inglott

“Some of the immediate and more superficially apparent effects of exercise like losing weight and gaining physical strength will increase physical confidence, but they also boost inner psychological confidence too. Carving out time in the day to indulge a personal interest can do wonders for one’s sense of self-worth. Exercise is a clear investment of time and effort in bettering oneself, not to mention the immediate meditative value of focusing one’s attention away for trouble and strife, and on a singular healthy and productive task. Over the longer term, exercise can help develop a more driven and assertive character whether it’s performed solo or in group settings.” (more)

Is my kid too fat?

Channel News Asia – Melissa Tan

“Being overweight as a child can also take an emotional toll. Overweight children are often shy about how they look, as other kids may tease and exclude them from certain activities. This can lead to low self-esteem and negative body images. So, why are there more overweight children? It’s a matter of “intake versus output”, Dr Oh said. When your child’s daily intake of food far exceeds his output of energy, the excess is stored as fat in his body. “You need to get the child to exercise, instead of spending time on the computer, iPad and TV,” she added. Here are steps parents can take to combat weight issues.” (more)

Why your kids should always eat their broccoli: Green vegetables are linked to children doing better in school

The Daily Mail UK – Cheyenne Roundtree

“Children should increase their consumption of broccoli because it can improve their academic performance, a new study claims. A pigment found in leafy greens, egg yolks and broccoli has been found to increase a child’s overall brain health, especially during tests. New research found that high levels of lutein helped children in school perform tasks better and more easily, regardless of their IQ or other factors.” (more)

Rossen Reports Update: New guidelines limit screen time for kids

Today – Jeff Rossen

” Now that school is out and summer is in full swing, kids may be tempted to spend more time in front of screens, such as tablets, smartphones and laptops. But experts say kids already spend too much time staring at screens — an average of seven hours a day, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Academy recently updated its recommendations about how much time kids should spend on their devices, providing a full list broken down by age. They recommend screen time for children under 2 years old should be limited to video chatting and for those ages 2 through 5, limit screen time to only one hour a day. Kids 6 years and older can have more screen time but need an hour of exercise. No children should be in front of a screen an hour before bed.” (more)

How much sugar is in your breakfast cereal?

The Derby Telegraph – Alistair Houghton

” They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and cereals are often seen as a healthy choice for kids. But many popular options contain more sugar than parents realise – some have the equivalent of 3.5 sugar cubes per serving. This means a child could be eating more than half their six-cube recommended daily allowance before they leave for school. And too much sugar can also lead to obesity, tooth decay, type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the future.” (more)