The Problems
The two main problems with childhood obesity are the physical dangers of this condition and the psychological stresses that arise from being overweight. Obesity can trigger a host of ailments and diseases in children, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heat illness, bone and joint problems, poor sleep, earlier maturation and liver and gall bladder disease. Psychological problems cited by MayoClinic.com include low self-esteem and bullying, increased risk of depression, behavior and learning problems, more anxiety, poorer social skills, social withdrawal and depression.
Physical Benefits
The physical benefits of youth sports are obvious. Physical activity burns calories. Aerobic exercise improves heart function. An increase in muscle mass allows more calories to be burned throughout the day.
Many sports require participants to stretch beyond their comfortable range of motion, improving flexibility. Weight-bearing exercises help improve bone strength. Strengthening muscles, especially in the core of the body, can help decrease back problems.
In a study by the University of Athens, cardio-respiratory fitness levels correlated with body fat, even in overweight children.
Psychological Benefits
Sports can provide a bigger benefit than non-competitive forms of exercise in the psychological arena. Youth sports force children to interact with their peers, giving them a chance to make friends and work on social skills.
Obese children involved in sports can develop more self-esteem by achieving goals they have set for themselves; seeing that they can learn new skills; winning as part of a team, even when they do not personally perform well; or performing well even when their team does not, such as by hitting a home run during a team loss.
Teen pregnancy occurs less frequently in girls who participate in youth sports, according to the Womens Sports Foundation.
To succeed at sports, children must set goals; to achieve those goals, children must learn discipline to stay on track, such as by going outside and practicing serves on a chilly day for an upcoming match.
Goal-setting and the discipline required to achieve it in sports can translate to discipline in schoolwork and later to the business world.
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