Studies concluded by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation prove that one in three American children are obese or overweight and one of the main causes is that families are spending less time outdoors.

Parents can either make or break the physically active sector of their children’s life. If the parents stay inside and do not set an example of experiencing nature to their children, the likelihood is low that the child will grow up to be either physically active or make a point to go outside every day in order to benefit their physical and mental health.

Unlike today, a few generations before the teenagers today could stay outside all day without  anyone having to worry about their safety.  Many parents are extremely protective of the location and time that they allow their children to spend outside alone, and rightly so.

“Parents are not comfortable letting their kids playing outside and in a way, it creates kids who are not adaptable because playing outdoors forces you to adapt to natures unpredictable conditions.   It creates kids who are always in a comfortable and clean environment because they are always inside,” said Christopher Pederson, upper school teacher.

A little mud will not hurt anybody, but a lazy attitude proceeds the idleness of staying inside all day and sitting in front of a television, computer, or video game screen.

The pressures and technological distractions in the life of an American teenager often limit the possibility and motivation to get outside or be active.

“During the school year the first thing some teens do when they get home is Facebook, twitter, text, watch TV, video games, and possibly some homework,” said an anonymous sophomore.

“The people who do not go outside are often addicted to the lifelessness of the Internet and video games because they are as accessible as a click of a button and  they take you to another world in which you can be whoever you want.  Technology is really easy but going outdoors sounds inconvenient to teens who would rather fill their boredom with the convenience of  technology.”

With all of these burdens, addictions, and worries crowding up the typical teenagers daily agenda, it is difficult and unlikely for a teenager to make time to be active and go outside.

“In nature you have a better perspective of who you are compared to God.  When I was young I would ride my  bike and stay outside all afternoon and I still have those habits.  But in today’s culture it is backwards,” said Pederson.

Not only the absence of being physically active, but also the lack of experiencing nature and low levels of sunshine exposure will result in a lazy and depressive culture.

People need fifteen minutes of exposure to vitamin D, or sunshine, every day. Vitamin D deficiency can result in many health issues but the most apparent issue relates to the persona.  Multiple medical studies prove that daily exposure to vitamin D lowers the risks of teenage depression.

According to a study done by America’s Heart Association, 60 Percent of American teenagers spend 20 hours a week in front of a TV or Computer screen, a third spend 40 hours a week and 7 percent of America’s teenagers are exposed to 50 hours a week of television and computers.

As soon as many teens are done with the responsibilities that come along with being a student, they fill their time with technology.  This creates an underrated view of the vital importance to be active or get out in nature every day.

Getting outdoors and exposed to the sun creates an overall healthy and happier culture but technology, habits and worries of parents, and blatant laziness lurks within the American teenage culture which brings about problems that are the result of a culture disconnected from their natural world.