Stressed Kids?

[VisionSeeker]

 

Stressed Kids Stay Sedentary

Stressed-out kids are more likely to become couch potatoes.

By Jan Eickmeier

Stress can make kids opt out of exercising and spend their time watching TV instead. In a study published in the September 2003 issue of the journal Obesity Research, researchers measured the activity levels of 25 boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 12 on 2 days--once after they engaged in a nonstressful activity and the other after giving a videotaped speech. The children were divided into groups based on how much their heart rate changed in response to being stressed and how stressed they felt themselves to be.

After the tests, the children were offered the choice of being paid to exercise for progressively longer periods of time or either watching TV or playing video games. Researchers found that children whose heart rates reacted to stress exercised less on the stressful day than they did on the nonstressful day. Stress can lead to both sedentary behavior and increased snacking, both of which can result in weight gain.

Read more: http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/stressed-kids-stay-sedentary#ixzz1zN7Stp2a

 

What do you think?  Do you think stressed kids are more prone to being a couch potatoe?

[countrymomma81]

Probably. I was stressed a lot as a kid therefore when I had downtime I just wanted to chill out. 

And the sad thing is, I had nothing to be stressed about. It was just me over reacting to everything I guess. 

[bethany169]

I think it depends on the kid--my brother and sister and I all go for a run or workout when we're stressed because we know we'll feel better afterwards. It's definitely nothing our parents taught us because they both very sedentary, we just all figured it out on our own. I do hope to pass it on to my kids though.

[nngmommy83]

I think it depends on the kid too

[sarah824]

I think it depends on the kid, but I also think the parents play a role. My kids are 5 & 7, so mot much stress here, but when they start getting "wound a little tight" we make them go outside and run off some of the pent up energy.

[soccerchik8287]

I do think stressed kids are more prone to being couch potatoes. When I am stressed it is sooo easy to just do nothing & sit on the computer or watch tv

[abra]

probably