Page 82 - Illinois Association of Park Districts Benefits of Membership 2017 - 2018

third of all low-income children in Illinois were found to be overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.5 This extra weight acquired during childhood or adolescence is associated with obesity during adulthood, and increases the risk for some chronic diseases later in life.6
The benefits of physical activity
The health benefits of physical activity during childhood and adolescence are undeniable. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, studies indicate an association between youth physical activity and psychological health, lower levels of body fat, lower blood pressure and abstention from tobacco and alcohol use.7 Regular physical activity among adolescents is consistently related to higher levels of self-esteem and lower stress levels. Organized sports programs can introduce youth to such skills as teamwork, self-discipline, leadership and socialization.8
The U.S. Surgeon General has estimated that each year 300,000 deaths can be attributed to obesity, yet 40 percent of adults in the United States do not participate in any leisure-time physical activity. However, a sensible program that features moderate amounts of physical activity five or more times a week and a reduction in caloric intake can fight obesity, as well as heart disease, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, stroke, arthritis, breathing problems and psychological disorders that are often associated with obesity.9
Economic impact of inactivity
Direct costs of physical inactivity in the U.S were recently estimated to be $24 billion. The total costs of obesity were estimated to be an additional $70 billion; together accounting for nearly 10 percent of national health care expenditures.10 Hospitalization among children and adolescents for diseases associated with obesity increased sharply over the last 20 years, accounting for more than $127 million in health care costs.
5 Center for Disease Control, Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System, 2002.
6 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), compiled statistics.
7 Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). 8 Promoting better health for young people through physical activity and sports, 2000 USDHHS.
9 Overweight and Obesity: What You Can Do, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/).
10 “Economic Costs of Obesity and Inactivity,” Graham A. Colditz, Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, November 1999.
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