Organize Family Olympics in your Neighborhood

Obesity in the United States has now reached epidemic proportions. This is no surprise considering the overall lifestyle our society promotes. Perhaps the most shocking of these statistics are those for adolescents. If we allow our children to continue down the path of junk food and inactivity we are dooming them to a life of obesity. This will not only impact their appearance, but also put them at a significantly higher risk for chronic disease. It is time throw away the potato chips, turn off the TV, and make a change!

A great way to get kids of the couch and outside moving is to organize family Olympics in your neighborhood. This will promote healthy physical activity and bring the community together for a common cause. Follow these easy steps to get your games started:

Make Teams– Divide families into different teams randomly or based on certain characteristics like what stress each family lives on. Make teams small so everyone gets involved. Remember the idea is to get moving.
Set a date and time– Time can be a conflict so setting a date and time should be planned well in advance. This will also give kids the chance to get excited and starting practicing (AKA: Getting active!).
Location– The closer the better. Families will be coming from the same general area so it would be a good idea to pick a location that is convenient.
Events- Choose events that involve as many people as possible. The main goal is to get people having fun being active so be creative! Examples: Obstacle course, relay race, family fun run, or any team sports.
End Strong- Hold a post game pot luck picnic where everyone can bring their favorite healthy foods. Have copies of all the recipes so families can make them again. This will further bond the community and reinforce healthy eating habits.

Organizing family Olympics in your neighborhood would be a great start to helping your community living a healthier life. The goal is to plant a seed for changes that will last well beyond the day of the games.

Obesity rates in Florida according to the Center for disease control (CDC):