Why are school physicals important? This is a question many parents may find themselves asking as they have to take their child in for another school physical. Physicals are important for a varied of reasons.
First, they can help detect health issues early, which is also the best measure when treating a chronic or serious condition. Physicians will test things like blood pressure and vision. Both of which are best treated early, and can negatively impact performance.
Another issue is the general health of kid’s in today’s society. Research from the United States Department of Agriculture showed that only 2% of children have a healthy diet. Another study showed that only three out of every ten students were eating vegetables on a daily basis.
Chronic diseases including heart diseases, cancer, and diabetes are to blame for 70% of deaths in America. Additionally, 70% of obese youth have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. These risks include high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The overall health of American youth as at a near crisis point. Even if your child is not visually overweight, if they are not eating healthy, they are at risk of major diseases.
Going to a family doctor and get school physicals will help to identify risk factors early when prevention is still an option. School physicals can identify pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and other serious indicators of bigger problems.
Sports physicals may not be as thorough, but are also enough to detect many early warning signs. In addition to regular visits to the doctor, children also need to be kept active. Whether it be playing sports, riding bikes, walking, or just playing in the yard. Children need physical actively to grow properly and healthy.
Children also need a healthy diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy proteins and low sugary carbs. Keep kids away from candy and treats may seem hard, but you’ll be teaching them lifelong lessons on healthy eating, and you will enable them to develop a healthy relationship with food.
Unfortunately, many children and adults alike get stuck in the yo-yo of dieting to lose weight and then going back to old habits gaining the weight back. Frequent fluctuations in weight aren’t healthy either. The best path is to simply maintain a healthy weight, which means regular activity and a balanced diet.
Children learn best by example. So if the parents regularly go to the doctor for checkups, eat healthy, and stay active, the children are more likely to do the same. You can also take the time during school physicals or while at a health clinic to ask your family doctor for advice regarding a healthy lifestyle.
