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SPORTS & FITNESS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, June 15, 2024

THEN AND NOW

If you’re at least 35 years old and have a young 
child in your life, you may believe that children 
today are just as healthy and happy as they 
were when you were growing up. However, 
alarming changes have occurred in children’s 
body composition, fitness, and overall health 
over the past 30 years due to shifts in lifestyle, 
diet, physical activity, and socio-economic 
conditions.

Over the past 3 or 4 decades, big changes have 
occurred in children’s body composition, 
fitness, and overall health due to shifts in 
lifestyle, diet, physical activity, and socio-
economic conditions. Childhood obesity rates 
have risen dramatically, with more children 
having higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and 
body fat percentages. For example, in the 
United States, the percentage of children aged 
6-11 who were obese increased from about 7% 
in the late 1970s to over 20% today. And the 
increase isn’t about to level off anytime soon. 
This rise in BMI is mainly due to an increase 
in fat mass rather than lean mass, indicating 
poorer health outcomes. Expect to see 
continued growing rates of childhood obesity 
and body fat composition in the near future.

Fitness levels among children have also steadily declined. Aerobic fitness, measured through 
metrics like VO2 max, has decreased, with children today running slower and showing lower 
endurance compared to those from the 1980s. Muscle strength is down too. Many schools 
have reduced the frequency and duration of physical education (PE) classes over the years, 
impacting children’s fitness levels severely. PE classes are crucial for providing structured 
physical activity that helps develop muscular strength. The reduction in these programs has 
negatively impacted children’s fitness levels (CDC). Overall, there is a noticeable decline in 
various measures of fitness, which is critical for long-term, overall health.

Metabolic health has worsened too, with more children showing signs of metabolic 
syndrome, which includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the 
waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. All showing up in children now as young as age two. 
Additionally, the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children has risen significantly, a condition 
once primarily seen in adults. Yes, adult onset diabetes is taking hold of kids during the 
preschool years. Dietary habits have shifted towards more processed foods, sugary drinks, 
and high-calorie, low-nutrient options, leading to weight gain and poorer health. Only a 
small percentage of children meet the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables 
each day, some consume almost none. All this leads to deficiencies in essential vitamins and 
minerals such as Vitamin D, calcium, and iron.

Mental health issues have become more common among children, with higher rates of 
stress, anxiety, and depression. These issues are linked to factors like social media, academic 
pressures, and changes in family dynamics. Physical activity levels have decreased, with 
children spending more time on screens and leading more sedentary lifestyles. We see 
more chronic conditions such as food and airborne allergies, asthma, celiac disease, Autism 
spectrum disorders and a large spike in ADHD diagnosis.

Then there’s sleep. Children today tend to sleep less, partly due to increased screen time and 
busier schedules, which further contributes to various health problems. Sleep is fundamental 
to various aspects of children’s health and development. Ensuring that children get enough 
sleep can support their physical growth, cognitive function, and emotional well-being, 
setting the foundation for a healthy and successful future.

These changes highlight the need for interventions to promote healthier lifestyles among 
children. Encouraging more physical activity, improving diet quality, and providing better 
mental health support are crucial steps to counteract these negative trends and improve the 
overall health and well-being of future generations.

What does all this mean for you, and the children you love? Unless you want these alarming 
trends to continue it means prioritizing their well-being and taking proactive steps to address 
these issues. Advocate for policies and initiatives that promote children’s health and provide 
resources for prevention, early intervention, and treatment. It also highlights the need for 
increased awareness, education, and support for families, caregivers, and communities to 
help children adopt healthy lifestyles and access the care they need. Let it motivate you to be 
proactive in supporting the children in your life by encouraging healthy habits, providing a 
nurturing environment, and being a role model for their physical and mental well-being. It’s 
really a collective responsibility for us all. 

Families, communities and 
policymakers need to work 
together to create more 
healthful environments and 
habits. Young children are 
very often overlooked because 
they don’t have a voice of their 
own. Be their voice. Now. 
While there is time to them to 
learn healthy habits from day 
one instead of trying to change 
them later.

WHAT’S GOING ON? 
Let’s imagine. 

We are all getting ready for hot weather… 
Hoping that now the rains and wind and 
clouds are gone. The sun is here in the 
afternoon. It’s vacation time. Time off for 
re-charging the batteries and thinking about 
what we haven’t done and what do we have to 
do before school starts again. 

Summer, parades, 4th of July fireworks, pools 
and beaches. Can you believe that some NFL 
teams open up their camps in July? College 
football in August? And a college season that 
lasts until January 20.th Coaches and kids will 
practice and study and re-hab for about five 
months of the football season. Somewhere out 
there people are planning what else to change 
and arrange for the athletes in our sports. 

Most current plans are that there will be a 
new playoff system with a 12 team play-off. 
What do you think? This will be breaking 
the pattern for Bowl games and traditions. 
Possibly this will work out. More money for 
someone. Thus the season will officially end 
all the way to January 20th. 

The traditional “bowl” schedules are changing 
now. Rose, Cotton, Sugar, Orange.. then 
Peach, Nectarine?, olive? bank?, investment?, 
freeway?, Moving company? bowls will follow. 
Bowl games now are sponsored by business 
and corporations etc. Locally, the Rose Bowl 
will keep the date and time for 2 more years. 
But television rules the schedule and the bank 
book. The television contract runs out and 
then look for more changes. 

With the play off system the Rose Bowl 
“game” will be just another one of the play-off 
games. We will not be able to do the hoopla 
and events traditionally for that week before 
New Years Day. No longer the BIG TEN, PAC 
TEN or TWELVE matchup. As of now it is a 
four week play off. The teams will be prepping 
for the next game if they win, and will not be 
able to spend the days prior to our New Years 
game. The Rose bowl game is second in the 
playoff series. Will fans travel to Pasadena 
for perhaps only two days? And then have to 
travel to another venue? It won’t be the same. 

I hate to see the Rose Bowl Game and week of 
events fall along the wayside. The Rose Bowl 
should still be a great event for all concerned: 
fans, players, coaches, businesses, the city. 
Here’s my fantasy solution to keep the real 
Rose Bowl game alive.

The Tournament, the Rose Bowl and the City 
of Pasadena will have to become real partners 
and put together a package that can’t be 
turned down. The Bowl system will have to be 
flexible to continue the “BIG Game” on New 
years. Otherwise, just leave the playoff system 
entirely and do their own “Big Game Rose 
Bowl Classic.” 

After the 12 teams have been announced set 
up the chance to offer our game to two other 
teams of our choice. A lot of good teams are 
left who will draw big crowds and who would 
love a chance to play in a Rose Bowl. They can 
come for five or six days and enjoy the package 
of events that the Rose Bowl game includes. 
Since the selection is in early December, the 
Rose Bowl will have three weeks to promote 
the game not just one week. Teams can come 
out and enjoy all the traditional events and 
tours. Fans will have the same option: “this is 
our big trip.” 

In the play off system, lose the first game and 
you are done. Win and plan another travel 
day to another city. Go to Pasadena and it’s 
the great event and experience for players and 
fans.

If the powers that want-to-be can compromise 
and be creative this can continue to be a great 
event.

How about a Rose Bowl Kick-off Classic 
Labor day weekend? August before Labor 
Day . Guarantee teams a minimum then 
real football fans can begin the season with 
a huge football weekend. First the Classic in 
Pasadena, then go over to Las Vegas Classic 
for the Las Vegas game, (this year USC vs 
LSU) in Allegiant Stadium. Double header 
football! How about Notre Dame vs Ohio 
State? The Rose Bowl could make up it’s 
possible TV losses with the two-game plan. 
You gotta think ahead or you finish last.

Okay now, start reading your football 
publications and form your opinions on 
what games and teams you are excited about 
this year. How will USC and UCLA do in 
the BIG10? Good question. Maybe next 
column. Enjoy the summer and remember 
you can listen to me live on Sunday mornings 
beginning August 18th KLAA am830. 

Follow me @coachhyde and harveyhyde.com. 


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 

professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.com. 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness Visit 
her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.

HELP SIERRA MADRE'S TALENTED SOFTBALL 
GIRLS REACH NATIONALS!

For the first time in SMGSA history we have not one but several all star teams poised to qualify 
for state and national tournaments. 

The success of these teams is a tribute to the quality programming we offer and the dynamic 
growth our league has seen over the past several years. Along with these exciting times comes 
some financial pressure. Traveling costs and tournament fees add up for our families and we are 
hopeful our community will rally around these athletes and get them where they need to go. 

Please consider donating to the Allstar program and support the dedicated and talented athletes 
that represent the city of Sierra Madre.

For over 50 years, SMGSA has provided opportunities for generations of girls to grow and 
develop as athletes and people, leading to numerous successful teams and providing a strong 
foundation for girls’ future endeavors on and off the field. Building on this legacy, we are proud 
that for the first time in SMGSA history—in a single season—we have not one but several All 
Stars teams poised to qualify for state and national tournaments. 

The success of these teams is a tribute to our deep teaching of quality programming, community 
support, and the dynamic growth our league has seen over the past several years. Along with 
these exciting times comes some financial pressure. Traveling costs and tournament fees add up 
for our families and we are hopeful our community will rally around these athletes and get them 
where they need to go. 

Please consider donating to the Allstar program and support the dedicated and talented athletes 
that represent the city of Sierra Madre. Go Madre!

GOFUNDME LINK: HTTPS://GOFUND.ME/2A9487F9


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com