Good and bad in kids' fitness

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN: A child demonstrates the new baby treadmill.

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Toddler treadmills are part of a booming exercise industry aimed at children as young as three.

Parents concerned over their children's waistlines can buy a treadmill or exercise bike for about $400 online.

Similar child-sized gym equipment has drawn outrage overseas for the disruption it could cause to children's normal play routines, and New Zealand experts agree parents should encourage their children to play outdoors rather than resort to treadmills.

The Fun and Fitness Treadmill is marketed as a toy to keep children aged three and older active. It includes a calorie counter.

A child's exercise bike is also sold online for "budding Tour de France cyclists".

Children's exercise programmes are proving increasingly popular with parents. Otago University researcher Kim Meredith-Jones, who is studying childhood obesity, says physical activity is better than miniature treadmills or restrictive gym programmes, and warns parents not to push their children too hard.

"The main thing is determining the intensity level for children, who don't sweat at the same rate as adults. A lot of parents say `I don't see him working very hard'. But if you're doing activities in the heat, children can overheat fast."

When developing a child's exercise programme she incorporates a number of activities to keep it interesting, such as cycling, rowing and team sports, but play remains the main form of exercise.

For parents wanting a more structured programme, CrossFit Auckland is one of a number of gyms around the country with exercise classes for children.

Co-director Alex Porter said he was reluctant to recommend treadmills. "It's probably a bad idea. The kids should be able to get out there and play."

CrossFit Kids had proved a hit with parents. Some classes had sold out and there were expansion plans.

Porter said participants ranged from overweight children to sporting prodigies.

"We have the PlayStation generation where kids are fairly sedentary and it's amazing how inflexible they are. Then we have the sporting kids who are regional and national reps or even world champions.

"We dress it up at a small age to look like games and the kids can't tell they are working out, but they know they are training in an elite environment," he said. "They love it – addicted to it. They're bugging their parents to do more."

FitnessNZ and ACC set guidelines for the children's fitness industry in 2009. They advise against under-8s using adult exercise machines or weightlifting.

Children aged between 9 and 12 couild use free weights as long as the load did not increase over time, while weight machines should not be used by any child.

- © Fairfax NZ News