50 / 124
GET
YOUR
TEENS
MOVING
Teenagers
today are
leading
sedentary
lives, glued
to their
gadgets and
eating a diet
of junk food.
Yet there is
hope as Kris
Ng’ang’a,
Fitness
Manager
at Body &
Soul Health
Club & Spa
tells HEALTH
how to get
our teens to
start moving
to get into
shape.
Learn From Example
According to Kris, teens learn from the
people they look up to and adore. He
explains, “First of all, if the parents do
not exercise, it will be very difficult for
them to convince the child to do the same.
Do not eat junk as the parent, at least
not in front of them. Also eat outside a
maximum of twice in a week.” Teens love
munching and with the growth hormone
rapidly speeding up growth, the need for
food keeps them travelling to and from
the kitchen. He advises to let them find
good options and aim to be an example.
Active Leisure
Parents, he advises, should have active
leisure. “Instead of going for a movie, the
same time could be spent on ice skating,
or skiing,” he says. “Active leisure is when
your body is involved in the activity that
is your leisure.” Taking teens to the beach
or water park is a very good way to get
teens involved in exercise as the stairs and
the ride are tedious without looking like a
48
Sep/Oct 2015