August 17, 2009; Wenckebachweg 83, Amsterdam @ 14.30
This morning we went to the gym to work out together. As I was on the elliptical trainer it struck how me bizarre it actually is that we need all these machines to exercise our bodies. I mean it's great that we do it because the alternative danger is an unhealthy lifestyle. But how have we come so far, become so developed, that in order to keep our bodies fit we need to go to this special place, with special machines, to give our bodies the activity level it once got just by living. It reminded me of some science fiction film where future human beings have these huge heads and whithered bodies since the bodies are no longer used for anything physical.
Afterwards we went to Helisports, a gym equipment supply store, to buy a workout bench for the house so Amie can do more dumbbell work. As we walked through the showroom I saw this display for kiddie workout equipment. WHAT? Yep, kiddie workout equipment. My First Gym from Lego kind of idea.
I know childhood obesity is an extremely serious public health problem. According to many studies, more than 25% of American kids are overweight or obese. In England the figures are similar for boys with almost a third of girls overweight or obese. According to another study by 2010, 38% of children will be overweight or obese in Europe, 27% in the West Pacific region and 22% in Southeast Asia.
Well if that's the case, then I guess kiddie gyms are a good initiative but how did we get so far that kids just don't get enough physical activity by running around, playing hide and seek, dodgeball, climbing trees, kick the can, capture the flag, building tree-houses and forts and every other conceivable activity kids could be doing? And then of course I realize there is the whole area of what kids eat and the general composition and value of our industrialized food.
So get up of your duff... grab your kids... and get moving... 1 - 2 - 3 - 4... 1 - 2 - 3 - 4!
