Question

As a practitioner in an obesity related field we should communicate physical activity guidelines to the patients/clients we work with. This is standard. Now that you have expanded your knowledge and have a better understanding of sedentary time, what information would you share with your clients about physical activity and sedentary behavior? Discuss what your comprehensive message would be to clients to help them understand how they should spend their time in terms of activity.   

Standing Classrooms, Integrating movement into classroom based learning, Recess before lunch, Running/Walking Clubs, Remote Drop Off and Pick Up, - Research an intervention used in schools to increase PA or decrease sedentary time (such as those listed above), describe it, discuss if it has been shown to be impactful, what are the strengths and the weaknesses?

Many schools around the US are cutting back on PE and recess time. What factors are contributing to these cuts?  On average how much physical activity are children getting in school?  What would be your argument about keeping and even expanding PE and recess times?

The article “Barriers to Physical Activity” discusses common barriers to PA and looks at the influence of age, sex, activity level. Select one of the Barriers from this study, look up evidence-based strategies to help people overcome that barrier, and share a successful strategy with the group.

Answer 1

As a practioner, it is extremely crucial to understand the behavioural patterns of the client which would further help one understand the psychological wiring of an individual who leads a sedentary lifestyle.It is important for a practioner to explain the harmful and prolonged ill effects of leading a sedentary lifestyle. Some of the serious ill effects are: Symptoms of dementia, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis, low sex drive, increased blood sugar levels, mood swings, etc.This just goes to show that lack of physical activities can cause the emergence of a plethora of physical and mental health related problems, which can prove to be serious in the long run.The importance of physical activity must be addressed and highlighted in front of the concerned client.

As many youngsters today are facing health problems such as obesity and depression, many schools in the US have tried to implement new ways to improve the lack in physical activities by introducing various techniques such as “recess before lunch”, more physical activities in the classroom learning,standing classrooms,etc.These techniques are implemented with a notion of bringing about a change in the mindset and overall health of the students, as in modern times due to everything being so easily accessible to children, there seems to be a lack of physical and mental stimulation.These techniques have proven to be useful upto a certain extent, however, there are many schools in the US itself who have cut short on the PE and lunch time, so as to complete the syllabus and avoid any “wastage of time”. This movement has been righteously termed as the “Death of recess in America”.This is extremely unfortunate and unfair as studies have shown that “recess time” is crucial in the childhood development of an individual as it enforces qualities of being social and physical at the same time, this building a child’s social and interpersonal behavioural skills.Hence, in every way possible, it is pivotal to not shorten the recess time or PE time, but to exapnd the same as it is manipulating the climacteric of a child.

One of the most common physical activity barrier is the lack of time to carry out any form of exercise or physical activity.This is a very common “excuse” that many individuals cling onto in their defense.One of the best ways to overcome this issue is by monitoring one’s daily schedule and rearranging the time slots in one’s routine. One can accordingly incorporate any physical activity such as running, yoga, cycling, swimming or any sport. One should at least keep a 30-40 minute time slot dedicated to any form of physical activity during the day and be consistent with it.It is important to understand that consistency is key.