“Why Exercise Won’t Make You Thin” by John Cloud appeared in the August 9, 2009 issue of Time Magazine. This article discusses the struggle with weight loss and the role that exercise may not play in helping individuals obtain the results they desire. Mr. Cloud quotes Steven Gortmaker, who heads Harvard’s Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity. “If you‘re more physically active, you’re going to get hungry and eat more.” Gortmaker has also studied childhood obesity. Also detailed in the article, was a paper published in the International Journal of Obesity describing a study of 538 children. Gortmaker and Sonneville found that children who begin exercising, end up eating more. The average consumed was 100 more calories than they had burned while participating in exercise. Exercise has many health benefits and should be encouraged. However, from this article it is questionable if rigorous exercises help obese children.

Food intake remains a concern in fighting childhood obesity. Eating healthy is very important in the lives of young children. Just recently MyPryamid, which is part of U.S. Department of Agriculture, joined Twitter. This is an excellent resource to support healthy eating in child and adults. Whether you use Twitter or the internet at www.usda.gov, you will learn what is going on, and what is coming up!

Thanks and have a fabulous weekend!

Hatch® encourages exercise, wellness and awareness with the Fit 4 You™ Kit