Not only is the obesity rate rising in kids and adolescents, but there’s also an epidemic of “sedentary disease,” a term used to describe lack of physical activity among today’s youth. How sedentary are kids these days? Just released is the 2014 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. This report is a comprehensive report on how physically active today’s kids really are – along with a “report card.” Do the kids of today get passing grades when it comes to physical activity?
Children and Physical Activity: How Active Are Today’s Youth?
To research this report, researchers enlisted the help of academic institutions and fitness experts. This report gives a grade based on how active kids are both at home and at school. Unfortunately, they didn’t score well. The kids of today earn a failing grade for “active transportation,” walking or biking to school rather than riding in a car.
At one time, most kids walked or biked to and from school. Times have changed. That number has dropped to only 12.7%. It’s not just a lack of motivation to walk or bike that’s the problem. Almost half of all kids live more than two miles from their school. So kids aren’t moving much on the way to school.
Why is this concerning? Research shows kids that walk or bike to school have a higher fitness level and better cardiovascular and metabolic health. Even low-intensity activity like walking or biking to school has benefits.
Sedentary Behaviors among Kids
Simply put, time spent sitting is bad for children and adults. Seems kids are doing far too much of it these days. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids should spend less than 2 hours a day watching television, playing video games and using a computer. Turns out only about half of kids are meeting these guidelines. Combine that with the fact they’re sitting in a classroom most of the day and it’s easy to see why the report gives today’s kids a “D” grade for sedentary behavior. In fact, in the adolescent to teenage group, kids spend 7.7 to 8.5 hours sitting.
Kids and Sports Participation
One of the best ways for kids to get in shape is to participate in sports. Are they taking advantage of it? Kids that take part in sports get around 45 minutes of moderate to high-intensity exercise during practice sessions. Here’s the good news. Almost 60% of youth participate in some type of sport. Numbers are higher among males (64%) versus females (52.6%) Still because rates are lower for girls and some ethnic groups, the final grade for sports participation was only a C minus.
How about Physical Education in the Schools?
One way kids can get a portion of the exercise they need is to participate in physical education classes at school. Just because schools offer physical education doesn’t necessarily mean kids are showing up. Physical education isn’t required during all four years of high school in many areas so kids have an out. As a result, fewer kids take part in PE as they advance through high school. Participation is highest in ninth grade (68.1%) and declines each year to a low of 38.5% by grade 12. In fact, only a little more than half of all high school students take part in PE class. The grade for school physical education participation? An uninspiring C minus.
The good news is more than 80% of kids live in neighborhoods that have one or more amenities that encourage physical activity like a park, playground, safe sidewalks or a recreation center. Research shows having access to these resources encourages kids to be more active. So, the grade here was a B minus.
Why Kids Need to Be More Active
Staying physical activity not only helps kids avoid obesity – it has long term benefits. Research shows kids that are active during their childhood years have a lower risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes as adults. It also helps children develop coordination and maximize bone density. In addition, regular physical activity reduces stress, builds self-esteem and improves academic performance. Kids and teens that exercise benefit both physically and mentally.
How much exercise should kids get? The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that kids and teens get 60 minutes or more of moderate to high-intensity exercise each day. They emphasize that kids also need exercises that build bone density and muscle mass. It’s during childhood and the teen years that children and adolescents build a good bony foundation that will reduce the risk for osteoporosis later in life.
What is the cost of not getting enough exercise? A study carried out by the shoe company Nike showed that being inactive during childhood could cost a child five years of life due to adult health problems related to being sedentary. Girls, in particular, need to be encouraged to be more active. This study shows girls are more likely to not participate in sports and physical education classes regularly. Plus, bone health is more of an issue for girls and women.
The Bottom Line?
Many kids are still not getting enough physical activity at home or at school. Plus, the technology age has ushered in an era where children and teens sit in front of a computer screen or play video games instead of playing outside. It’s time to motivate kids to get up off the couch and move so they can enjoy better health now and later in life.
References:
The 2014 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.
National Osteoporosis Society. “Your Children and Bone Health”
Fast Company. “Childhood Inactivity Will Cost Your Kids 5 Years of Life, Says New Nike Research”
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Exercise Around the World: Which Countries Are the Most and Least Physically Active?
Physical Inactivity or Obesity: Which is the Bigger Health Threat?
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