Are children worldwide not physically active enough?
| Updated: Nov 30, 2018, 15:18 IST
Do you remember those times when you were a child and you spent most of your day playing outside? And then video games were invented and as if that wasn't enough, suddenly the Internet popped up too and that was all children needed to say goodbye to any form of physical activity. Recent studies have shown that most children these days tend to live a sedentary lifestyle. The reasons for this were attributed to increasing screen time, growing urbanisation of communities and the rise of automation. Children hardly have space outside to play anymore.
A professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada said that children who are physically inactive are at a serious risk of adverse physical, mental, social and cognitive health problems. And this is the generation that will face the most adverse challenges like climate change, globalisation and increasing technological changes. Physical activity for children should include playing outside, sports, transportation, chores, recreation, physical education, or planned exercise and this should be in the context of family, school and community activities.
The WHO recommends that children get at least one hour of moderate to vigorous, intense physical exercise daily. They also recommended that the daily physical activity should be aerobic in nature. Also, they need to do activities that will help their muscles develop and make their bones healthy like running, jumping, cycling etc. So, it's about time that you make sure your child is getting the exercise they need. Stay tuned for more updates.
A professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada said that children who are physically inactive are at a serious risk of adverse physical, mental, social and cognitive health problems. And this is the generation that will face the most adverse challenges like climate change, globalisation and increasing technological changes. Physical activity for children should include playing outside, sports, transportation, chores, recreation, physical education, or planned exercise and this should be in the context of family, school and community activities.
The WHO recommends that children get at least one hour of moderate to vigorous, intense physical exercise daily. They also recommended that the daily physical activity should be aerobic in nature. Also, they need to do activities that will help their muscles develop and make their bones healthy like running, jumping, cycling etc. So, it's about time that you make sure your child is getting the exercise they need. Stay tuned for more updates.