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English Assignment 1
Friday, March 02, 2007

     

Teens become less active as they grow older

As they grow older, teenagers are spending more time in front of the computer and television and less time participating in physical activities, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Research published in the journal Pediatrics found that moderate to vigorous physical activity among teenage girls and boys dramatically decreased from early to late adolescence. In addition, the findings showed that sedentary behaviors increased nearly 25-50 percent from 1999 to 2004.

"There is a disturbing shift in behavior as adolescents grow older," said Melissa Nelson, Ph.D., lead author of the study and assistant professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. "The increase in sedentary activities combined with the decrease in physical activity is thought to be associated with increased risk for obesity."

Participation in physical activity among girls dropped from 5.9 to 4.9 hours a week from early adolescence (ages 11-15) to midadolescence (ages 15-18). Even more drastic was the drop from 5.1 to 3.5 hours a week in girls from mid to late adolescence (ages 18-23). Time spent on the computer for non-school related activities also increased from 8.8 to 12.5 hours a week from mid to late adolescence.

In contrast, boys showed a more delayed decline in physical activity starting in midadolescence and dropping from 6.5 to 5.1 hours a week as they grew older. Leisure time computer use increased substantially from early to midadolescence (from 11.4 to 15.2 hours a week) and mid to late adolescence (10.4 to 14.2 hours a week). Researchers conducted a longitudinal study of more than 2,000 adolescents to examine changes in eating patterns, weight, and physical activity over five years. Subjects completed two surveys for Project EAT: Eating Among Teens - one in 1999 and one in 2004 - to determine if there were changes in physical activity patterns.

Project EAT: Eating Among Teens was designed to investigate the factors influencing the eating habits of adolescents, to determine if youth are meeting national dietary recommendations, and to explore dieting and physical activity patterns among youth. The project strives to build a greater understanding of the socioeconomic, personal, and behavioral factors associated with diet and weight-related behavior during adolescence so more effective nutrition interventions can be developed.
My Response:
 In line with the article, I find that a main reason for this obsession is that using the computer or watching television does not require one to exert energy unlike engaging in sports or exercise. Following this, I feel that gaming is a major cause of computer addiction. In view of the role-playing games where one can indulge in a make-believe reality, these games can keep one hooked for hours on end. It is no surprise to hear of people foregoing food and sleep, even bath time, just to play.

Blogs and online shops are the latest addition to the fatal attraction of the internet. Incredible amounts of time can be spent working on the layout for the site, composing blog entries, uploading, editing and inserting pictures. On top of that, one can get indulge in voyeurism, getting lost in the huge online network of interlinked blogs, simply reading about random people's lives and going through the pictures. Following the likes of eBay.com, more and more people are setting up their own websites for online transactions. Items sold include clothes, handmade accessories, electronic gadgets and so on.

Recently, there has also been the creation of online communities such as Friendster, MySpace, Facebook and Tagged, where people set up their personal online profile, upload pictures, drop comments and testimonials for one another.

With all these options available, one readily forgets time just lingering online even if it was just browsing through random web pages. At the point when he snaps back to the real world, it would be too late for anything else but sleep. It is in this way that an unhealthy lifestyle develops. The quest for convenience thus becomes twisted as teens choose the most convenient way of life, that is to sit in front of the computer, over having fun in the sun. As a result, their physical growth is slowed down given the more passive lifestyle.

Personally I do not deny being a part of this addiction, having my own blog and love for role-playing games like Warcraft. It is undoubtedly much easier to sit and while the day away in front of the computer than just going down for a swim. Nonetheless, I do get my share of exercise from playing basketball with my neighbors every now and then. Having rugby trainings in school also helps keep me fit.

I believe that at this time and age, while one has more options that point towards a less tiring and comfortable lifestyle, all it takes is willpower and discipline to get away from the screens. Once you overcome the temptation, it actually feels great to be sweating it out in a game of basketball with a group of friends.

(452 words)

12:14 AM
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