More and more parents hire personal trainers to work with their children to help combat childhood obesity. Thousands of children who turn to professionals to get in shape. Last year, more than 1 million young Americans used personal trainers to lose weight, improve their fitness or improve their sports skills. Some statistics show that about 30% of children ages 6-11 are overweight, while about 15% are obese. With physical education classes on the decline, it’s no surprise that many parents are turning to personal trainers for help. If you’re looking for ways to get your kids more active, a personal trainer could be the perfect solution.

personal training for children

One of the reasons parents turn to personal trainers is to help their children excel in sports. Another important reason, of course, is to help control weight problems. Whatever the reason, the decision to hire a personal trainer should be yours and her child’s. One thing we do know is that getting kids and teens to exercise can be hard…forcing your child to do a type of activity or exercise they don’t like can backfire and not all kids will enjoy working with a trainer. staff.

If your child expresses an interest in working with a coach, you may be wondering what a coach can do for your child. A good trainer can help her find activities she enjoys while teaching her the right way to exercise for her age and goals. A trainer can also teach you how to lift weights, which has a number of benefits for children and teens, such as:

• more strength
• injury protection
• Better health
• Greater self-esteem and confidence.

A trainer can help determine what your child is capable of and teach them how to exercise safely, effectively, and most importantly, how to have fun so these habits stick well into adulthood.

Other reasons you may want your child to work with a coach are:

• Specific sports training. Athletes often need specialized training, and children who want to play sports may want or need the help of a professional to strengthen their bodies, increase their power and endurance, and protect them from injury.
• Orientation for the exercise. You may feel lost if your child wants to exercise or lift weights and you’re not sure you have the experience to show him what to do. If that’s the case, the right personal trainer can help you set up a good program that suits your child’s age, goals, and fitness level.
• Aversion to organized sports or group fitness. Some kids may not like typical physical education or sports, but still want to get fit. Working one-on-one with a trainer can be a safe environment for them to get fit and strong without feeling self-conscious.

According to the Max Fitness Academy in Sherman Oaks, CA, children under the age of 18 accounted for 17 percent of the 6.3 million people who wore sneakers in 2006. Max Hany Mikhaiel, CEO of the Academy and founder of the organization The nonprofit Drive Kids to Be Fit attributes the jump in part to parental concern about childhood obesity: The American Obesity Association estimates that about 30 percent of kids ages 6 to 19 are overweight.

With cuts to physical education programs across the country, Max says many kids don’t get regular exercise at school unless they’re playing an organized sport. Drive Kids to be Fit was developed as a fun and effective way to teach children good nutrition and exercise habits. The nonprofit organization is a community partner in the We Can! of the National Institute of Health. Program, a national initiative to reduce the number of children who are overweight and obese. “The goal is to reach every overweight kid in the country,” says Max, “by getting them involved in community activities…getting them out of the house and getting them active.” The 15-week program is currently available at Max Fitness Academy and is free to qualified low-income children ages 8-13 and will launch at several local area schools this fall. Trainers and nutritionists from Max Fitness Academy will visit schools to teach 1.5 hour classes on good eating habits, weight training and cardiovascular exercise.

So today’s parents view a personal trainer as a physical education tutor who can help a struggling child get back into shape. Certified teen and tween fitness trainers agree that self-esteem generally increases as a child’s body image improves. “When you’re strong, no matter how old you are, you’re brave in everything else,” says Max. He defends parents who hire coaches for their children by equating the expense to other classes such as dance or music.

These days it seems like everyone is talking about being overweight and obese and what to do about it. ¿Why is it so important? Because, as a nation, we’ve gotten heavier and heavier. The number of adults who are obese has increased dramatically, even in the last decade or so. And it’s not just a slightly larger waistline that might come with middle age. It is weight gain that harms our health. Based on national data reviewed, an estimated 65 percent of Americans are now overweight or obese, and more than 61 million adults are obese. Adults aren’t the only ones who have gained weight. The children have also gained weight. The percentage of overweight children and adolescents has more than doubled since the 1970s. About 16 percent of children and adolescents are overweight.

The downside of being overweight

People have many reasons to worry about being overweight, both in the short term and in the long term. In the short term, when a child is overweight, it can be difficult to keep up with friends, play outside at recess, or wear the latest fashions. Other kids at school can sometimes joke around. Being overweight can also be difficult for adults. Clothes feel too tight, it’s not always easy to be active, and one can tire easily.

Those extra pounds also have long-term consequences for both adults and children. Being overweight is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, certain cancers, and other chronic conditions. Health experts are especially concerned about the long-term consequences of excess weight in children. For example, type 2 diabetes was once rare in children. Now, it is estimated to account for 8 to 45 percent of newly diagnosed cases of childhood diabetes. Most cases of type 2 diabetes in children occur in people who are overweight. And overweight children are likely to become overweight or obese adults.

It’s one thing to think about the national obesity epidemic, but as a parent, what can you do about it? The two main ways to encourage and maintain a healthy weight and prevent overweight are to make wise food choices and to be physically active.

That’s what Max Fitness Academy’s Drive Kids to Be Fit is all about: providing you with lots of ideas that can help you and your family take steps toward a healthy weight.