Using aerobics to counter junk food and video games


Maha Mussadaq June 21, 2010

ISLAMABAD: This year a new summer activity has caught the eye of many mothers in the twin cities. Aerobics classes have witnessed an increase in enrolments this holiday season.

For Rs1000 per month, children are taken into the two month course, which has two classes per week. “It is a good way of ensuring healthy summers for your child,” said Dr Aena Irfan, who has registered both of her sons for these classes

With video games replacing physical excursion and junk food serving as a convenient substitute to healthy diet, the changing trends were not boding well for the health of these children.

Faiza, owner of a gym called Scissors, “My ten-year-old son was always sitting around playing video games.” Dr Anees Kauser, Assistant Executive Director Polyclinic echoed the concerns of these parents and said that it was high time that they started working towards the fitness of their child.

Bilal Hakeem a social observer said, “With the introduction of McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, etcetera more and more children are resorting to fast food as staple diet,” he said. “These chicky meals and happy meals have been shunned in the west but are still being served as lunch for school going children,” he said. Bilal added that extensive campaigns were run in the US to condemn consumption amongst younger customers but here it was gaining popularity.

“Dance steps mixed with aerobics are really entertaining for children. They don’t even realise that they working out,” said Sobia, who conducts the classes.

Dr Kauser said, “Blood circulation improves, they sleep well and most of all if they can make a habit out of it, which will stay with them forever.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2010.

COMMENTS (1)

sunmbul lala | 13 years ago | Reply please suggest some best aerobics institutions in lahore.
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