A manual will support the educational work of parents in the acquisition of healthy habits.

– is a tool designed specifically for the adolescent age

-the Guide has been edited with the collaboration of Coca-Cola Spain

Madrid, June of 2011- multi-disciplinary researchers from the Universidad Politécnica of Madrid (UPM), under the direction of Professor Marcela González-Gross, has just released a guide with the aim of supporting parents in the educational process of the more small to adulthood. Based in the pyramid of healthy lifestyle for children and adolescents ”, the Guide advocates inculcated from childhood interest in physical activity, to achieve the necessary energy balance (between ingested and spent energy) blinde children overweight and obesity. The manual, prepared by experts of the research group ImFINE of the Faculty of science physical activity and sport-INEF – of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, is particularly aimed at parents with children aged between 6 and 18 years and establishes a series of guidelines adapted to the creation of healthy habits (from 6 to 9 years)consolidation (aged 10 to 13) and maintenance (from 14 to 18 years).

In particular, the Guide recommends that during the stage of creation of healthy habits (from 6 to 9 years) physical activity is carried out mainly through games, increasing his practice gradually. As regards the food at these ages, responsible for the manual experts proposed the gradual introduction of new foods, looking for indirect incentives to encourage them to try new flavors (games), and highlighted the importance of creating the habit of distributing the diet in 5 meals a day.

According to the manual, the stage of consolidation of habits (from 10 to 13 years) stands out as a transition period between childhood and adolescence, which produce numerous changes physical, cognitive and psychosocial. In recent years, it is important for children to try several sports and choose who they like, to ensure that sport is a stimulating activity, that it favours the maintenance of this habit in adolescence and adulthood. Also, according to the expert participants in this monograph, sports provides many health benefits, such as improving the quality of sleep, assist the development of social skills and specific roles, and enhance the physical and intellectual performance, as well as facilitate the download of aggressiveness and build self-confidence.

At this age that already must be accepted all the foods and flavors, it is also essential to pay attention to fluid intake especially during and after the practice of sports and games. In this sense, Prof. DRA. Marcela Gonzalez-Gross, Professor Titular of the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the project coordinator, said that when we sweat during intense or prolonged physical activity, we lose body water and electrolytes that must be replaced immediately to avoid overheating and other possible adverse effects on health, which means that children who play sports intense or prolonged must ingest more fluids ”.

Finally, the maintenance of healthy habits (from 14 years a18) phase must strengthen already acquired habits, that will help turn to prevent the adoption of harmful like tobacco and alcohol habits. At this stage, teenagers are already capable of planning their own sports programme and should work all the components of physical condition (strength, strength, speed and flexibility). In relation to food, it should be in a varied and balanced diet tailored to regular physical activity that takes place.

On the project

The pyramid of healthy lifestyle for children and adolescents is an educational tool developed specifically for the adolescent age, incorporating current scientific knowledge. Its main objective is to facilitate the acquisition of habits that promote health from childhood. The main focus is on the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle that includes a proper and balanced diet and physical activity regularly. We must not forget the needs of children are different from those of adults. During childhood and adolescence, the energy balance is a complex issue, because in addition to compensate for the calories ingested and the worn, should ensure the growth and development. For this process and to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is essential to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.

According to current scientific data, there are factors of risk of some chronic diseases (such as obesity, diabetes, some cancers and cardiovascular diseases, among others) that may develop during childhood and adolescence. Therefore, efforts to reduce risk factors should start at an early age. Adopt an active and healthy lifestyle is important to grow in a suitable and fun, and it can contribute to good health in childhood and in adulthood.

This guide, which supplements the pyramid helps to communicate basic messages about the importance of acquiring and maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle from childhood to children and adolescents. The monograph has been edited with the collaboration of Coke Spain.