How Swimming Helps Your Child’s Weight

Since the 1970s childhood obesity has more than tripled according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recent data shows that nearly 1 in 5 children under the age of 19 are obese.

Many factors contribute to a child being obese, such as:

Genetics
Metabolism
Eating Habits
Community
Sleep Patterns
Stress and Traumatic Events
Physical Activity

While there is little we can do about our genetic makeup; there is a lot we can do to help children eat healthier, sleep more, deal with stress, and increase their physical activity levels.  Let’s explore how swimming helps your child’s weight to help them grow up to be healthier adults.

Benefits of Swimming for Kids

A healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise is the best way for children to win the battle against childhood obesity.

When it comes to physical activity, the first challenge is to get kids to stick with it.  Like most adults, it’s hard for children to get excited about working out.  Another issue that many parents face is that not everyone is into sports.  So what is a parent to do to keep their kids active?

The answer could be in your back yard. It’s your swimming pool.

Swimming is a wonderful alternative to increase children’s physical activity. Here is why:

It’s Fun! Children, especially those who are overweight might reject the idea of exercising. However, swimming is such a fun activity that most of them won’t think of it as exercise.
It’s a Full Body Workout. Swimming is excellent because it involves all major muscle groups in our body. During a swimming lesson, your kids will get a chance to work the muscles in their arms, legs, back, and abdomen.
It’s Low Impact. Many overweight children have trouble running, jogging, or jumping because they are high impact activities. Swimming, on the other hand, is a low impact form of exercise, and children may find it easier to do. 
It Helps Reduce the Risk of Injury. Thanks to the water buoyancy, objects weigh 1/10th of their normal weight. Therefore, it makes it easier for kids to move in the water, and because there is no impact, the risk of injury is lower.
It’s a Great Exercise for Anyone. Swimming can help obese children manage their weight. It can also help children who are not overweight, maintain their current body type.