Active parents have more active children
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Scientists from Britain in recent studies have found that in women who prefer an active lifestyle, children are mobile. Such conclusions were made by experts after they analyzed the way of life of five hundred women and their children at the age of four.
But, according to scientists, the physical activity of many women still remains below the recommended level. Over a week, specialists from two universities in the United States observed heart rhythms in women and their children so that their activity could be measured.
The results, published by specialists in one of the journals, said that the program to improve the health of children should start with their mothers. Specialists concluded that the child is not active from nature, it is parents who form healthy habits in the first years of life in the child.
The research project involved more than 500 women with four-year-old children, whom scientists installed on their chestspecial monitors for determining the rhythm of the heart and accelerometers. Volunteers who participated in the project, had to constantly wear equipment, without removing even during sleep or bathing.
One of the leading specialists of the project, an employee of the London College noted that the women who led an active lifestyle, the children also showed great activity. Although scientists also assume quite the contrary, that mobile children do not allow moms to sit still and force them to move all the time. However, scientists noted that the data are interrelated, and the activity of one, inevitably leads to the activity of the other.
At the same time, scientists managed to establish that the child's activity increased by 10% with the mother's activity. Although such minor differences can be trivial, but for a month or even a year the indicators can become more significant.
In addition, some factors influenced the activity of the woman, for example, other children, work (which was taken into account by scientists during the study).
During the study, the researchers found that a woman who became a mother, activity decreases, which invariably affects the child. According to experts, even a slight increase in activity can positively affect a woman and a child. Experts recommend to move more every day - at least to walk on foot in the fresh air.
If the whole family begins to lead an active lifestyle, it can significantly improve a child's health. Moving games develop coordination in the child, especially in younger school age. There are various types of exercise that you can do with children: swimming, running, a special room with exercise equipment. Such joint sports will provide an opportunity for closer communication between parents and the child and contribute to the development of the child. In addition to physical exercises, it is important to pay attention to proper nutrition. For children, one hour of activity per day is enough, for adults - two and a half hours per week.
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