The prevalence of childhood obesity in Malta has reached critical levels, with obese children within the five- to 10-year age group manifesting one or more cardiovascular risk factors.

Regrettably, overweight children have a higher risk of health concerns later on in adulthood, such as bowel cancer, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

The psychological, physical and economic burden of the increased incidence of such chronic disease is one of the major challenges facing our society. Prevention, particularly in childhood is the cheapest and most effective strategy.

One of the major causes of childhood obesity is the lack of exercise, classified by many as the daily sedentary behaviour adopted by most children.

After-school programmes, among many interventions, have shown the potential to provide opportunities to increase the level of physical activity, promoting lifelong participation in physical fitness. Studies have shown that when children engage in an activity they enjoy, there is an increased chance of establishing a consistent active lifestyle later on in adulthood.

Teaching our children the inclusion of healthy exercise from early stages of their development is a gift they will endure throughout their life.

How can pilates help?

Pilates is a low-impact method of exercise which provides an alternative regimen to enhance physical fitness. It gives children a ‘different’ kind of physical activity because it can be done anywhere on a mat or on a ball while making use of various types of small equipment.

It provides a fun form of keeping fit, keeping the child’s interest high. Pilates has in fact been proven to be an effective means to increase enjoyment and participation in exercise for children.

The essential concept of pilates is the strengthening of the core i.e. the powerhouse of the body and the development of body awareness. The ability to develop body awareness at a young age helps to ward off pain, poor stability and mobility that comes along with habitual poor posture further on in adulthood.

Pilates provides children with an enjoyable way to enhance physical fitness, promote good posture and spinal flexibility to counteract the poor habitual movement patterns and posture associated with daily sedentary behaviour.

It also enhances coordination, balance and joint flexibility, providing children with the basis behind structured and flowing movement required to support sports such as dance, swimming and football.

It helps the child to develop good mind-muscle connection as they grow. The increased body awareness also enables the child to grow in self-confidence and be sensitive towards others.

The combination of pilates alongside a well-planned weight management programme could provide a stepping stone to overcoming childhood obesity.

Bernice Azzopardi is a physiotherapist and pilates instructor.

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