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Hidden Benefits of Being Active

More Reasons to Keep Your Tweens and Teens Active

By Gina Roberts-Grey

There are definite benefits to regular exercise that can't be measured on a scale, and those benefits compound when children and parents are active together. "As if increased flexibility, endurance, strength and improved health aren't enough reasons to keep your family healthy, we're realizing the notable emotional and academic benefits as well," says Dr. Michael Forester, a pediatrician in Clay, N.Y. Compared to adolescents whose primary activities were watching television and playing video games, the children surveyed who exercised five or more times per week were less likely to have sex, including unprotected sex, smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or drive under the influence of alcohol, or use illegal drugs other than marijuana. When adding their parents, guardians or mentors to the equation, the chances of risky behavior dipped even lower.

"This tells us that children who stay active feel better about themselves, have more confidence in their appearance and abilities and value themselves more," says Richard Lieberman, school psychologist and coordinator of the Los Angeles Unified School District Suicide Prevention Unit in Los Angeles, Calif., deciphering the study's results.

Dealing with hundreds of children who engage in several forms of risky behavior including self-mutilation, sexual acts and attempted suicide, Lieberman sees the noticeable results of keeping teens and tweens active. "These children are less likely to miss time away from school or to have low self-esteem," he says. They are also more likely to achieve higher grades in math and science, get a good night's sleep, perform routine household chores and to willingly seek out summer or holiday employment outside the home.

Want to see more?

• Teen Time: Yoga for Mental and Physical Health
• Trigger Teen Triumph: Body by Jake's Secrets to Building Teenage Minds and Muscle
• Let's Get Physical: Helping Overweight Kids Get Active
• Talk about it!