Laura J. Burton

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Professional Athlete or Biggest Loser
Contestant Addressing the Challenges of Youth
Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

• Laura J. Burton
• Department of Kinesiology
• University of Connecticut

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The Challenges of Youth Participation in
Sport and Physical Activity
?
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The Problems

• Health Issues
• Psychosocial issues
• Adult issues
• Public health costs
• Cultural differences

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The Problems

• Burnout /Drop out
• Potential increase in alcohol use
• Potential increase in delinquency
• Overuse injuries
• Disorder eating
• Potential increase in antisocial behavior

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How did we get here?

• Decrease in physical activity
• Lack of nutritional food choices
• Changes in the built environment
• Decreased time in physical education classes
  recess

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How did we get here?

• Parental pressures
• College scholarships
• Increase in media focus on youth sport
• Early sport specialization
• Focus on winning at all costs

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How can we fix it?

• Role of schools in addressing childhood obesity
  crisis.
• Whats most effective in school based programs?

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Paw PALS program at UCONN
Philosophical Foundation, VanHeest, J.L. (2004)
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School Based Physical Activity Programs
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Husky Sport Program at UCONN
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Influence of Neighborhoods on Childrens
Physical Activity
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Active Commuting to School
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Community Based Programs
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Community Based Programs
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Positive Youth Sport Development
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Positive Youth Sport Development
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Positive Youth Sport Development
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So where do we go from here?
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Socio Ecological Model
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It will take a village
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Thoughts, comments, questions?