Fitness: Get Up and Get Moving!

By Michele Blandino

It's no secret that obesity is a big problem in our country, particularly among children. According to statistics supplied by the American Obesity Association, 30.4% of adolescents (children ages 12-19) are overweight while 15.5% are considered obese. This is almost double the number of overweight and obese adolescents reported 25 years ago.

An Alarming Trend

Busy lifestyles, the lure of video and computer games and other sedentary activities are partly to blame for this alarming trend, as is the prevalence of "super-sized" fast food portions. But for one group - teenage girls - the problem may also be linked to peer pressure or fear of competition.

While it is true that there are many opportunities for girls to become involved in team sports - Title IX took are of that problem more than 25 years ago - girls who do not take up a sport at an early age find it increasingly difficult to venture away from the sidelines as they grow older.

One Organization That Wants to Help

Fortunately, an organization founded by tennis great Billie Jean King is working hard to eliminate this fear and get more girls up and moving. The Women's Sports Foundation, founded in 1974, is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to fostering a love of sports and physical activity in women of all ages.

One important initiative undertaken by the foundation has been their Go Girl Go! website. Targeted specifically to girls through age 18, Go Girl Go! contains a wealth of information designed to help girls overcome the obstacles that prevent them from maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Designed Just for Girls

Young visitors to the Go Girl Go! site will be most interested in Go Girl World which contains links to informative articles, message boards, fun quizzes and games. The focal point of the site, however, is the "Gym" section which contains information on over 100 different sports ranging from Acrobatics to Yoga. Here, girls can learn more about sports that interest them including ease of learning, level of fitness needed, associated costs, and time commitment needed. For each sport, there are also recommendations for instructional books and videos, links to organizations associated with the sport and profiles of professionals or other notable athletes in that sport.

For girls who may not be sure which sport they are best suited for, the site also contains a short quiz which matches various personality attributes with the appropriate sports.

In addition, there are numerous articles with tips for safe and effective exercise, nutrition (including how to incorporate a small amount of fast food into your diet) and choosing the right clothing and equipment.

Finally, there is an "Ask the Sports Diva" section which offers practical advice to young girls.

While Go Girl Go! is not a substitute for actual exercise, it just may provide the incentive many girls need to become involved in regular physical activity. With its eye-catching graphics and casual, conversational tone, Go Girl Go! is a friendly place, filled with plenty of useful information that can help girls overcome their reluctance to participate.