Babes Bookin' It

The Fit girls running/reading program addresses a variety of important issues that girls in the Boston community  face today, including the increasing rate of childhood obesity and  general decline in reading ability and critical thinking skills.  These statistics are even more alarming in low-income populations.

On the whole, kids are spending less time exercising and more time in front of the TV, computer, or video-game console.  According to the Massachusetts Public Health Association:

        ·         29% of Bay State children are overweight or obese,

·         The rate of obesity has more than doubled in the past two decades

·         Overweight children and adolescents have 70% chance of becoming overweight adults

Furthermore, overweight children are at risk for serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol - all once considered exclusively adult diseases. But overweight children may also be prone to low self-esteem that stems from being teased, bullied, or rejected by peers. Overweight children are often the last to be chosen as playmates, even as early as preschool.  Children who are unhappy with their weight may be more likely than average-weight children to develop unhealthy dieting habits and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and they may be more prone to depression, as well as substance abuse. 

Physical activity and exercise has both physical and emotional benefits.  Girls who participate in physical activities have a higher self-image and increased confidence.  Mary Piper, author of Reviving Ophelia says, “Girls in sports are often emotionally healthy.  They see their bodies as function, not decorative.  They have developed discipline in the pursuit of excellence.  They have learned to win and lose, to cooperate, and to handle stress and pressure.  They are in a peer group that defines itself by athletic ability rather than popularity, drug or alcohol use, wealth, or appearance.” 

In 2007 the National Endowment of Arts released an important study that revealed a serious decline in reading ability and the habit of regular reading among American teenagers and adults.  This finding has   demonstrable social, economic, cultural and civil implications. 

“As Americans, especially younger Americans, read less, they read less well. Because they read less well, they have lower levels of academic achievement.  (The shameful fact that nearly one-third of American teenagers drop out of school is deeply connected to declining literacy and reading comprehension.) With lower levels of reading and writing ability, people do less well in the job market. Poor reading skills correlate heavily with lack of employment, lower wages, and fewer opportunities for advancement. Significantly worse reading skills are found among prisoners than in the general adult population. And deficient readers are less likely to become active in civic and cultural life, most notably in volunteerism and voting.”