amenZone was originally created in response to the dire situation surrounding childhood obesity.  Below are some statistics on the weight of this issue plaguing American youth.

From the William J. Clinton Foundation, an organization that “focuses on worldwide issues that demand urgent action, solutions, and measurable results,” one of which is childhood obesity in the United States:

• Almost one in four children does not participate in any free-time physical activity.
• 92% of elementary schools don’t have daily physical education classes year-round. Less than a quarter of high school students take daily physical education classes.
• Children treated for obesity are roughly three times more expensive for the health care system than children of normal weight.
• Only 3 out of 10 of high school seniors report eating green vegetables “nearly every day or more.
• Today, nearly 25 million children are overweight or obese.
• Over the past four decades, obesity rates have soared among children of all age groups, increasing nearly five-fold among those ages 6-11.

From KidsHealth.org, a Web site part of The Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media, and whose articles are reviewed by medical experts before posting:

• The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight or obese.
• Kids younger than 6 spend an average of 2 hours a day in front of a screen, mostly watching TV, DVDs, or videos. Older kids and teens spend almost 4 hours a day watching TV, DVDs, or videos. When computer use and video games are included, time spent in front of a screen increases to over 5½ hours a day! Kids who watch more than 4 hours a day are more likely to be overweight compared with kids who watch 2 hours or less.
• Many kids don’t get enough physical activity. Although physical education (PE) in schools can help kids get up and moving, more and more schools are eliminating PE programs or cutting down the time spent on fitness-building activities. One study showed that gym classes offered third-graders just 25 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
• Current guidelines recommend that kids over 2 years of age get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.

From Peoples-Health.com:

• More than 70% obese adolescents retain their overweight and obese condition even during their adulthood.

amenZone offers children a fun and engaging way to exercise with their families and peers.  Family classes are offered at Cactus Park in Scottsdale Saturdays, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Here’s a short video from a year ago about the problems that childhood obesity could lead to.