Speed Reading — Level 1 — 200 wpm

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The American Heart Association says children are less fit today than children 30 years ago. Researchers looked at information about 25 million children in 28 countries, from the past 46 years. On average, today's boys and girls run a kilometre one minute slower than their parents could. How far a child can run is falling by five per cent every decade. One reason for this is obesity. Kids are overweight because they eat too much and do not exercise enough.

The researchers are worried. Children are fatter and less fit, so they will be unhealthier in the future. Dr Grant Tomkinson said, "they are more likely to develop…heart disease later in life". He said children needed to "get moving" and try different ways to keep fit now and in the future. They can try different activities to see which ones they like. He added: "They can be strong like a weightlifter, or flexible like a gymnast, or skillful like a tennis player."

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