Charlie Webster Blog
Campaign for Life
July 22, 2010
Filed Under Health and Fitness
Since I was a kid I have banged on to anybody who listened about how much I want to help and inspire people especially kids into sport and exercise. In my job I am very fortunate to meet some amazing people. Recently I have met a couple of kids who I’d like to tell you about. Their stories break my heart because they are totally preventable.
I have been desperate to try and think of a way I can help change this situation amongst young people including obesity, body image crisis and eating disorder issues which then have such a knock on effect on social problems. I believe in Sport and exercise as one of the most powerful tools in life not just the physical advantages but emotional and social too.
Child 1 (8 year old boy) has a family history of prison; He said that he thinks he’ll be in prison when he is older. He liked gardening at school, when told that he could be a gardener when he was older, he replied ‘really do you think I could be a gardener?’ He hadn’t even thought he had an alternative than ending up in prison. Oh and this child has a very kind and thoughtful nature.
Child 2 (11 year old boy) seriously overweight said he looked in the mirror and said ‘I’m a horrible fat b*st*rd’ they were his exact words. By the way he is the nicest, kindest child you could meet.
Child 3 (15 year old girl) get’s called fat…she is not fat. She now thinks she is fat, consequently she is battling with an eating disorder.
For reasons I’ll not go into here Sport literally saved me and helped get through my younger years which were very tough. I truly believe that without it I wouldn’t be where I am today and striving to get further. It gave me an outlet for my troubles when I needed it most.
It has been proven by scientific research (and I am too a living example hence my passion), that exercise can completely change your life. Endorphins are released during exercise as well as adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine this creates feelings of happiness and gives you a mental up lift. It helps you overcome worries, stress and anxiety which is becoming more frequent amongst kids in society. Exercise too can overcome depression which I am sad to say is also becoming more commonplace amongst teens. It promotes focus, discipline and stimulates brain growth. I could go on all day about its benefits.
There is a huge disease of low self-esteem spreading as you can see from just 3 children I have met recently, kids don’t believe in themselves or that they can achieve. Low self-esteem generally leads to under-eating or over-eating and the avoidance of exercise. However exercise helps confidence and self-esteem.
I was so disturbed this week by the fact the NHS are sending out letters to kids as young as 5 telling them they are too fat. The measurement used is the Body Mass Index (BMI).
Fact! BMI DOES NOT take into account age, gender or muscle mass. It also CANNOT tell if it is lean body mass or fat mass. Some athletes have a high BMI because of muscle but they certainly aren’t fat or unhealthy.
Fact! Getting kids and people moving, exercising and having fun will help obesity problems, body-image issues, emotional and social problems that are becoming a serious modern day crisis.
Are you on board?
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