Statistics say about 25 per cent of U.S. kids are overweight, or at risk of becoming overweight. Being obese opens kids to taunting, and worse, adds to their risk of health problems. These sources of unhappiness, we're told to blame on two major factors: the wrong choices in food, and being sedentary. Sounds like a good solution is to eat right, and go play paintball.
The best part of paintball is you don't need athletic ability. Anyone can play.
With a national focus on losing weight and getting fit, paintball can find ways to expand. What is your school, or your kids' school, doing to make fitness fun? Ask the school why not start a paintball program? Athletic directors and coaches quickly can learn the basics. Local fields offer rental gear and referees.
Parents and kids can support each other's efforts to take off those extra pounds.
While we're thinking thin, how about a team or field weight loss challenge? Instead of all candy bars and sodas, offer healthy snacks and fruit juice at the field canteen. Award free passes to players who lose weight. The more people keep weight loss in mind, the more weight will be lost.
Needless to say, the slimmer a player is, the smaller a target he becomes.
