Team Sports are Simply THE Best Option

            There have been many different efforts to abolish childhood obesity and yet America’s children are getting fatter. It is not food, nor advertising for food that makes our children fat. It is simply children not getting the exercise they need. Normal gym exercise or track running is not always enjoyable and I will be the first one to admit that but getting out on a field or court and playing a team sport is hard to beat. The hardest part about getting children to play team sports is getting their parent (YOU) to bring them to registration. Chris Moerdyk says in "Advertising Alone Cannot Be Blamed for Childhood Obesity" that “It's all about being accepted and being cool. Kids don't just get into bad habits on their own—they're influenced almost entirely by their friends. Frankly, banning advertising is hardly worth bothering about,”(Moerdyk). So if a child’s friends are involved in sports then they are more likely to want to do the same. After getting the child involved, he or she will make new friends; and having friends that lead a healthy lifestyle will greatly influence them. Richard Berman in "A Lack of Physical Activity Causes Obesity” states that, “the vast majority of people believe that parents, not food advertising, represent the primary factor in kids' food choices and weight.” Americans lead a very busy lifestyle and moms have trouble taking their kids with them to the grocery stores or to do their shopping. When you stop and think though, if a mom could drop the child off at practice, she could run to the store get her shopping done and then pick up her child. This solves two problems, not only does she get her shopping done quickly and without interruption; but the child gets lots of exercise, makes friends, and has fun doing it. The simplest way to solve this issue is to push parents to take action and to get their child involved in team sports and see what a difference it makes in their child’s life.