Students will learn the importance of exercise in preventing obesity and illness. Copy and distribute the printable Resources section below. Have students read the essay for background information and consult any or all of the encyclopedia articles that follow it to learn more about the topic. Essay: "I Was a Teenage Couch Potato!" That's the title of a horror movie that could be coming soon to your television screen. You know couch potatoes—they spend all their time sitting in front of the television. Are you one? The "couch potato" label fits many kids—too many, experts say. The percentage of young people who are overweight has tripled in the past 20 years. And lack of exercise is one major cause. Kids are less active for several reasons. Many schools have cut back on physical education and sports programs to save money. After school, video games have replaced outdoor games as a top activity. Couch potato kids are setting themselves up for serious health problems later in life. Inactivity and poor diet cause at least 300,000 deaths a year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Only tobacco use causes more preventable deaths. Regular exercise, on the other hand, helps you feel good and look good. It improves strength and endurance. It helps build healthy bones and muscles. And it helps control weight. To help kids get fit, many schools are beginning to rethink their phys ed programs. They're adding fitness activities that are fun, like karate and line dancing. Some adult fitness centers have set aside areas where kids can work out, using equipment designed for them. But you don't need special programs or equipment to be fit. How much exercise do you need? Experts recommend a moderate amount of exercise on most or all days of the week. Here are some activities that fill the bill: Walk 2 miles in 30 minutes; run 1-1/2 miles in 15 minutes; bike 5 miles in 30 minutes or 4 miles in 15 minutes; dance fast for 30 minutes; jump rope for 15 minutes; play basketball for 15 to 20 minutes; play volleyball for 45 minutes. As a rule, more exercise brings more health benefits. But be careful not to overdo it. That can lead to fatigue and injuries. If you get out of breath and your muscles hurt, you're probably trying to do too much. Build up the amount of exercise you do gradually. You'll be able to do more as you become fitter. The New Book of Knowledge articles: Physical Fitness Obesity | endurance | The ability to last, to keep on going, as in "I didn't know you had the endurance to run the entire 26-mile marathon." |
Answer these questions as you read the essay: - What is a couch potato?
- How much has the percentage of kids who are overweight increased in the past 20 years?
- Name one reason why kids are less active today.
- Name one benefit of regular exercise.
- Name one activity that will meet the need for daily exercise.
This chart shows the number of calories burned by a 100-pound person who performs the listed activities for one hour. Use the chart to answer the questions that follow. Mark the circle next to each correct answer. GOOD EXERCISE!| Activity | Number of Calories Burned |
|---|
| Ballet Dancing | 288 | | Basketball | 384 | | Bowling | 144 | | Gymnastics | 192 | | Karate | 480 | | Mowing Lawn (power mower) | 216 | | Raking Lawn | 192 | | Rollerblade (In-line) Skating | 336 | | Rope Jumping | 480 | | Shoveling Snow | 288 | | Skateboarding | 240 | | Soccer | 336 | | Square Dancing | 264 | | Volleyball | 144 | | Walking 4 miles | 216 |
1. Which of these activities burns the most calories? O soccer O rollerblading O rope jumping 2. Which of these activities burns the most calories? O bowling O gymnastics O karate 3. How many calories would be burned if a 100-pound person walked 8 miles in 2 hours? O 216 calories O 432 calories O 612 calories 4. How many more calories are burned playing basketball for an hour than playing volleyball for an hour? O 140 calories O 184 calories O 240 calories 5. How many more calories would you burn shoveling snow for an hour than you would if you skateboarded for an hour? O 48 calories O 140 calories O 240 calories 6. A 100-pound person just played volleyball for two hours. How many calories did she burn? O 144 calories O 184 calories O 288 calories 7. Which of these activities burns the most calories? O ballet dancing O square dancing O bowling 8. If a 100-pound person raked the lawn for an hour and then mowed the lawn for an hour, how many calories would he burn? O 380 calories O 408 calories O 432 calories How much exercise do you get? Is it enough? What could you do to improve your fitness? Answers to Activity: - rope jumping
- karate
- 432 calories
- 240 calories
- 48 calories
- 288 calories
- ballet dancing
- 408 calories
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