Childhood Obesity Discussed - Trampolines Ireland

At Trampolines Ireland we seek to support the people who will get benefit from our products and over the last few years we have been involved with a number of autism programs, as kids and adults with autism get tremendous benefit from the simple practice of daily trampolining.

1 Week Childhood Obesity Summer Challenge

Childhood Obesity in Ireland

But recently, our attention has been drawn to another huge problem that our society is developing and that is childhood obesity. And as you might expect, kids who develop childhood obesity typically continue to gain weight through adulthood.

"In the Republic of Ireland it is currently estimated that 60% of adults and 25% of children are overweight or obese." SafeFood.net

The numbers are extremely shocking and it would make you wonder what it will take before attitudes change.

"Ireland has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the world.

One in four Irish school-going children are either overweight or obese.

Research has shown that children who are obese are highly likely to be obese in adulthood. Furthermore, we now know that these children are at a higher risk of developing co-morbid diseases later in life such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and many cancers." NationalResearchCentre.ie

We're not saying that we have the answers, but what we do know is that the culprits are two-fold - 

1. unhealthy eating choices, including chocolate, soft drinks, sweets and too many carbs,

2. inadequate exercise that develops a virtuous cycle of not exercising because you feel unfit, and then feeling even more unfit because you aren't getting adequate exercise.

What Role Can Trampolines Play in Combating Obesity in Ireland?

In our humble opinion, trampolines could have a significant role to play in tackling obesity in both kids and adults for the reasons below - 

1. TREMENDOUSLY EFFECTIVE TYPE OF EXERCISE

NASA use trampolines in their programs specifically because it is so effective and is even more effective than running as a method of burning calories.

2. EXERCISE IN PRIVACY

When people are carrying excess weight it can affect their confidence. And although it is a very unpleasant concept, body shaming can be a real thing.

Getting a workout on the trampoline in the privacy of your own home or back garden allows you to start shedding weight and building your fitness in privacy, so that you develop both strength, fitness, aerobic capacity and confidence.

3. SAFE & NON-STRENUOUS FORM OF EXERCISE

Provided that you follow the manufacturer's guideline and use the trampoline in the prescribed way, working out on a trampoline will give you a safe and enjoyable workout.

When bouncing on the trampoline you decide the pace, and so you can choose to bounce gently in place for ten minutes or to jump as high as you can, but the choice is yours, and it is this ability to align the intensity of your workout to your own fitness and experience levels that makes trampolines so popular with all age groups, from young children to sprightly pensioners.

4. SO MUCH FUN

Don't forget that trampolining is one of the most fun things that you can do.

1 Week Childhood Obesity Summer Challenge

CONCLUSION

We will be sharing more information on this topic soon and we are looking into ways to bring awareness to childhood obesity in Ireland.

This issue isn't going away, and we look forward to hearing from anyone interested in discussing how to tackle obesity.