You don’t have to be an adult to experience the ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle. Kids sitting for hours in front of computers, televisions or hand-held devices are setting themselves up for problems later in life. Not only has childhood obesity reached epidemic proportion in the U.S., Chiropractors are seeing an increase in the number of children suffering from neck and back problems.

The couch-potato lifestyle leaves bones and muscles underused. When a child suddenly has to exert himself — lugging a heavy book bag to school, for instance — the body, the spine included, is subject to strain and prone to injury. Obesity, of course, contributes to a host of problems for children, including the likelihood of developing high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

As a parent, first of all you should set a good example. Exercise regularly and don’t establish a sedentary lifestyle for yourself that your child will emulate. And if your child tends toward inactivity, set limits for how much time is spent with electronic devices. At the very least, make sure that when they are entertaining themselves with electronics that they are sitting up straight.

A person is never too young to benefit from a chiropractic exam. Get your child, whether they are active or sedentary, to a chiropractor for a checkup.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com