Activate Your Life

Activate Your Life Campaign
Shawndy Darcey
Greg Gallugi
Megan Hand

Ten strategic questions to help you work toward your initial social marketing plan

1.    What is the social or health problem I want to address?
–Parents that are contributing to un-active children by allowing their kids to sit in front of their computers and televisions for hours on end.

2.    What actions do I believe will best address that problem?
–Parents can “activate” their child’s life by engaging in physical activities with them or at least encouraging them to participate in physical activities on their own. Parents can influence their child to run and play at local parks as a way of living a healthy, “active” lifestyle.

3.    Who is being asked to take this action? (audience)
–Young parents with children aged 12 and younger.

4.    What does the audience want in exchange for adopting this new behavior?
–If parents choose to accept this advice and “activate” their child’s life, they will receive the benefit of having a healthier child, as well as the fun experience of participating in their child’s active lifestyle.

5.    Why will the audience believe that anything we offer is real and true?
–The advice we are offering is backed up by such credible organizations as “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.” In addition, the information is quite obvious. Active lifestyles equal exercise and healthier children.

6.    What is the competition offering? Are we offering something the audience wants more?
–Our competition is actually the alternative lifestyle, which involves watching TV, playing video games, and surfing the net rather than being active outdoors. Unfortunately, many Americans would prefer to lounge rather than be active, but we are offering them the reasons why they should incorporate physical activities into their weekly routine.

7.    What is the best time and place to reach members of our audience so that they are the most disposed to receiving intervention?
–We are going to air our radio commercial during the morning and evening commute in order to reach parents. We are going to air our television commercial on weekends and evening hours to reach parents when they are home with their children. The idea is that they might see the commercial and be motivated to take their child out to play.

8.    How often and from whom does the intervention need to be received if it is to work?

–If this campaign is to work, repeating this message multiple times is necessary. Timing and repetition are very important.

9.    How can I integrate a variety of interventions to act, over time, in a coordinated manner, to influence behavior?
–In addition to our campaign, for us to receive the results we are looking for, we would need help from various organizations, including local schools. We could collaborate with schools to incorporate more physical activity into their student’s everyday routine.

10.    Do I have the resources to carry out this strategy alone? And if not, where can I find useful partners?
–As mentioned above, we believe local schools would be useful partners in this campaign.

Featuring our television advertisement and radio commercial!

http://activateyourlife.wordpress.com/media-page/

Tips for grappling the holidays when it comes to being active and healthy for your kids.

http://www.beactivekids.org/documents/ParentNewsletter_Fall08_English.pdf

The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate — 1 out of 3 kids are now considered overweight or obese.

Many kids are spending less time exercising and more time in front of the TV, computer, or video-game console. And today’s busy families have fewer free moments to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals, day in and day out. From fast food to electronics, quick and easy seems to be the mindset of many people in the new millennium.

Preventing kids from becoming overweight means adapting the way your family eats and exercises, and how you spend time together. Helping kids lead healthy lifestyles begins with parents who lead by example.

Is Your Child Overweight?

Body mass index (BMI) uses height and weight measurements to estimate how much body fat a person has. To calculate BMI, divide weight in kg by height in meters squared, or wt/ht2. For pounds and inches, divide weight by height squared and multiply the result by the conversion factor 703.

An easier way to measure BMI is to use a BMI calculator. Once you know your child’s BMI, it can be plotted on a standard BMI chart. Kids fall into one of four categories:

1. underweight: BMI below the 5th percentile
2. normal weight: BMI at the 5th and less than the 85th percentile
3. overweight: BMI at the 85th and below 95th percentiles
4. obese: BMI at or above 95th percentile

BMI is not a perfect measure of body fat and there are situations where BMI may be misleading. For example, a muscular person may have a high BMI without being overweight (because extra muscle adds to a person’s body weight — but not fatness). In addition, BMI may be difficult to interpret during puberty when kids are experiencing periods of rapid growth. It’s important to remember that BMI is usually a good indicator — but is not a direct measurement — of body fat.

If you’re worried that your child or teen may be overweight, make an appointment with your doctor, who can assess your child’s eating and activity habits and make suggestions on how to make positive changes. The doctor may also decide to screen for some of the medical conditions that can be associated with obesity.

Depending on your child’s BMI, age, and health, the doctor may refer you to a registered dietitian for additional advice. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a comprehensive weight management program.

The Effects of Obesity

Obesity increases the risk for serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol — all once considered exclusively adult diseases. Obese kids may also be prone to low self-esteem that stems from being teased, bullied, or rejected by peers.

Kids who are unhappy with their weight may be more likely than average-weight kids to develop unhealthy dieting habits and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and they may be more prone to depression, as well as substance abuse.

Overweight and obese kids are at risk for developing medical problems that affect their present and future health and quality of life, including:

• high blood pressure, high cholesterol and abnormal blood lipid levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes
• bone and joint problems
• shortness of breath that makes exercise, sports, or any physical activity more difficult and may aggravate the symptoms or increase the chances of developing asthma
• restless or disordered sleep patterns, such as obstructive sleep apnea
• tendency to mature earlier (overweight kids may be taller and more sexually mature than their peers, raising expectations that they should act as old as they look, not as old as they are; overweight girls may have irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems in adulthood)
• liver and gall bladder disease
• depression

Cardiovascular risk factors present in childhood (including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes) can lead to serious medical problems like heart disease, heart failure, and stroke as adults. Preventing or treating overweight and obesity in kids may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease as they get older.

Causes of Overweight

A number of factors contribute to becoming overweight. Genetics, lifestyle habits, or a combination of both may be involved. In some instances, endocrine problems, genetic syndromes, and medications can be associated with excessive weight gain.

Much of what we eat is quick and easy — from fat-laden fast food to microwave and prepackaged meals. Daily schedules are so jam-packed that there’s little time to prepare healthier meals or to squeeze in some exercise. Portion sizes, in the home and out, have drastically increased.

Plus, now, more than ever, life is sedentary — kids spend more time playing with electronic devices, from computers to handheld video game systems, than actively playing outside. Television is a major culprit.

Kids younger than 6 spend an average of 2 hours a day in front of a screen, mostly watching TV or videos. Older kids and teens spend almost 4 hours a day watching TV or videos. When computer use and video games are included, time spent in front of a screen increases to over 5½ hours a day! Kids who watch more than 4 hours a day are more likely to be overweight compared with kids who watch 2 hours or less.

Not surprisingly, TV in the bedroom is also linked to increased likelihood of being overweight. In other words, for many kids, once they get home from school, virtually all of their free time is spent in front of one screen or another!

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends limiting the time kids over 2 years of age spend in front of a screen to no more than 1-2 hours. The AAP also discourages any screen time for children younger than 2 years.

Many kids don’t get enough physical activity. Although physical education (PE) in schools can help kids get up and moving, more and more schools are eliminating PE programs or cutting down the time spent on fitness-building activities. One study showed that gym classes offered third-graders just 25 minutes of vigorous activity each week.

Current guidelines recommend that kids over 2 years of age should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.

Genetics also play a role — genes help determine body type and how your body stores and burns fat just like they help determine other traits. Genes alone, however, cannot explain the current obesity crisis. Because both genes and habits can be passed down from one generation to the next, multiple members of a family may struggle with weight.

People in the same family tend to have similar eating patterns, maintain the same levels of physical activity, and adopt the same attitudes toward being overweight. Studies have shown that a child’s risk of obesity greatly increases if one or more parent is overweight or obese.

Preventing Overweight and Obesity

The key to keeping kids of all ages at a healthy weight is taking a whole-family approach. It’s the “practice what you preach” mentality. Make healthy eating and exercise a family affair. Get your kids involved by letting them help you plan and prepare healthy meals, and take them along when you go grocery shopping so they can learn how to make good food choices.

Avoid falling into some common food/eating behavior traps:

• Don’t reward kids for good behavior or try to stop bad behavior with sweets or treats. Come up with other solutions to modify their behavior.
• Don’t maintain a clean-plate policy. Be aware of kids’ hunger cues. Even babies who turn away from the bottle or breast send signals that they’re full. If kids are satisfied, don’t force them to continue eating. Reinforce the idea that they should only eat when they’re hungry.
• Don’t talk about “bad foods” or completely eliminate all sweets and favorite snacks from kids’ diets. Children may rebel and overeat these forbidden foods outside the home or sneak them in on their own.

Here are some additional recommendations for kids of all ages:

• Birth to age 1: In addition to its many health benefits, breastfeeding may help prevent excessive weight gain. Though the exact mechanism is not known, breastfed babies may be more able to control their own intake and follow their own internal hunger cues.
• Ages 2 to 6: Start good habits early. Help shape food preferences by offering a variety of healthy foods. Encourage kids’ natural tendency to be active and help them build on developing skills.
• Ages 7 to 12: Encourage kids to be physically active every day, whether it’s an organized sports team or a pick-up game of soccer during recess. Keep your kids active at home, too, through everyday activities like walking and playing in the yard. Let them be more involved in making good food choices, such as packing lunch.
• Ages 13 to 17: Teens like fast food, but try to steer them toward healthier choices like grilled chicken sandwiches, salads, and smaller sizes. Teach them how to prepare healthy meals and snacks at home. Encourage teens to be active every day.
• All ages: Cut down on TV, computer, and video game time and discourage eating while watching the tube. Serve a variety of healthy foods and eat meals together as often as possible. Encourage kids to have at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, limit sugar-sweetened beverages, and eat breakfast every day.

If you eat well, exercise regularly, and incorporate healthy habits into your family’s daily life, you’re modeling a healthy lifestyle for your kids that will last. Talk to your kids about the importance of eating well and being active, but make it a family affair that will become second nature for everyone.

Most of all, let your kids know you love them — no matter what their weight — and that you want to help them be happy and healthy.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: June 2008

www.tvturnoff.org

…Try participating with them!

Around your neighborhood, proceed for a brisk walk in the park or on a trail, with your family. If possible, try out climbing in a park with hills and rocks. Make it as a funny entertainment; the kids won’t know that they are exercising!

Take your kids to the nearby playground. Let them do plenty of exercise running here and there around the playground and you too can join them for your health benefits!

Hopscotch is a better game to make your child exercise.

Go for bike ride along with your family.

Roller-skating and ice-skating are also good choice for exercising. Both are great exercises till mom and dad avoid falling on their bums!

Swimming would serve as great exercise and it is fun for everyone. When the weather is too cold, find an indoor swimming pool to hang around.

Mom and dad can jump out too! Yes, jump on trampolines. To get a fast workout, trampolines is an excellent choice. Remember that you may find yourself sore the next morning!

Teach your child to use skipping rope. Feed them some of those little rhymes that you used to recite when you jumped when you were a kid.

Go for bowling, bowling is a great and cool physical exercise and the entire family can participate.

Make your child take the pet for a walk or let them play with the dog with a ball (if you have a dog).

Try some winter drills. There are many useful drills to do during that cold time.

Do gardening along with your kids. Many kids like gardening. This serves as a low-impact drill.

Hide-and-seek will be a great exercise for everyone. This can be played outside or sometimes indoors during rainy days.

Let everyone dance for your guitar or switch on the jukebox and let them dance for that! The kids will love to dance and everyone get laughs out of funny movements!

Use toy guns! Let everyone run around and try to shoot everyone. Kids plus squirt guns equals fun and exercise.

Try throwing a ball or disc. Let your child catch and throw for you. 

Article from: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1099448/how_to_make_your_child_exercise.html  By Kenneth Barry

According to KidsHealth.org, “the percentage of overweight kids has more than doubled over the past 30 years. Although many factors contribute to this epidemic, kids are becoming more sedentary. In other words, they’re sitting around a lot more than they used to.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the average child is watching about 3 hours of television a day. And the average kid spends 5½ hours on all media combined, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Young kids should not be inactive for prolonged periods of time — no more than 1 hour unless they’re sleeping. And school-age children should not be inactive for periods longer than 2 hours.

One of the best ways to get kids to be more active is to limit the amount of time spent in sedentary activities, especially watching TV or playing video games. The AAP recommends that children under the age of 2 years watch no TV at all and that screen time should be limited to no more than 1 to 2 hours of quality programming a day for kids 2 years and older

So what can a parent do to help??

Parents can engage in aerobic activities with their children, which is both fun and healthy.

Examples of aerobic activities include:

• basketball
• bicycling
• ice-skating
• in-line skating
• soccer
• swimming
• tennis
• walking
• jogging
• running

Combining regular physical activity with a healthy diet is the key to a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some tips for raising fit kids:

• Help your child participate in a variety of activities that are age-appropriate.
• Establish a regular schedule for physical activity.
• Incorporate activity into daily routines, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Embrace a healthier lifestyle yourself, so you’ll be a positive role model for your family.
• Keep it fun, so you can count on your child to come back for more.