Recreation in Family Health

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPyramid guidelines indicate that any movement of the body which expends energy is physical activity. Recreation can be a variety of physical activities which incorporate diverse levels of energy expenditure. Families, which are comprised of various parental configurations and their children 18 years of age and younger, have unfortunately become increasingly sedentary due to a variety of factors such as time demands, safety, and access to recreation. The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion reports that recreation and physical activity are important, as they lead to promoting physical health and psychological well-being and can prevent the development of health problems. Increasing physical activities can be accomplished by encouraging families to participate in recreation together. After a brief discussion ...