Day-to-day exercise ‘largely disappearing from young people’s lives’

day-to-day exercise ‘largely disappearing from young people’s lives’

Exercise study

Day-to-day exercise is “largely disappearing from young people’s lives”, an expert has said, as new data shows England and Wales rank near the bottom of a world league table on how much children move.

The study, published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and covering 44 countries, shows England, Wales and Scotland performing poorly on markers such as day-to-day exercise like brisk walking, while not all children have breakfast on a school day.

While there have been improvements in areas such as children eating daily fruit and vegetables, youngsters are still not consuming enough to meet healthy eating recommendations.

Furthermore, there are stark differences – particularly in the UK – between children from affluent families and those who are poorer, with youngsters from poorer backgrounds far less likely to eat well or exercise.

The survey looked at the lives of children aged 11, 13 and 15 living in Europe, Central Asia and Canada.

It included more than 4,000 children in England, 4,000 in Scotland plus children in Welsh schools.

The data showed that 30% of girls and 18% of boys in England are inactive across all age groups surveyed, while the figure in Wales is 27% for girls and 17% for boys.

In Scotland, 21% of girls are inactive, alongside 12% of boys.

By age 15, just 11% of girls and 16% of boys in England do at least 60 minutes a day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, which can include things like brisk walking, cycling or rollerblading.

The figure was 7% of girls and 16% of boys in Wales and 12% of girls and 21% of boys in Scotland.

The figures put England and Wales near the bottom of the global table, and below Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Norway and Croatia.

At age 15, we've got two thirds of boys in the UK, roughly, who are taking part in vigorous physical activity four or more times a week, but only a third of girls. So that's twice as many boys as girls

Dr Jo Inchley

Things are better for more vigorous activity, such as team sports, but the UK still performs below the average for all countries in the study.

Dr Jo Inchley, international co-ordinator for the study, called Health Behaviour In School-Aged Children, and from the University of Glasgow, told the PA news agency: “In the UK, we’re consistently low on physical activity.

“We do see relatively high levels of young people involved in what we call vigorous activities, that might be sort of organised sports… But we’ve got big gender differences and big socio-economic differences.

“At age 15, we’ve got two thirds of boys in the UK, roughly, who are taking part in vigorous physical activity four or more times a week, but only a third of girls.

“So that’s twice as many boys as girls.

“On more day-to-day moderate to vigorous physical activity, where the heart is beating a little bit faster but it’s not high-impact exercise, that’s largely disappearing from young people’s lives.

“So previously, when young people would have spent a lot of time outdoors just playing in the local streets or walking to friends’ houses or going to the park, that (figure) would have been a lot a lot higher.

“Now we’re really seeing that coming down very low. I think that’s quite worrying because that can have a big impact on young people’s health and wellbeing.”

When it comes to eating breakfast before school, which experts say is a good healthy eating habit for children, some 37% of 13-year-old girls and 59% of boys in England eat breakfast on weekdays, while the figure is 33% and 54% respectively in Wales and 36% and 61% in Scotland.

This is below other countries including Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Italy and Norway.

Girls in England, Wales and Scotland are less likely to eat breakfast than the average for all countries in the study.

By age 15, just 35% of girls in England eat breakfast daily on weekdays (below average for all countries), as do 51% of boys.

When it comes to fruit, 46% of girls and 43% of boys aged 11 in England eat fruit daily, as do 38% of girls and 35% of boys in Wales and 54% of girls and 52% of boys in Scotland.

Breakfast consumption sets you up for the day and is associated with a range of positive health outcomes and educational outcomes

Dr Jo Inchley

Dr Inchley said: “I think we’re seeing a trend in the UK… decreases in breakfast consumption over time.

“That is worrying because that means young people are going to school without having anything to eat, which will affect their ability to learn and concentrate.

“It’s particularly low for 13 to 15-year-old girls – less than about 40% having breakfast every day on school days – and that’s definitely an area of concern.

“Breakfast consumption sets you up for the day and is associated with a range of positive health outcomes and educational outcomes.

“More generally, I think it speaks to kind of healthier eating pattern, which of course then links to overweight and obesity as well.”

Regular physical activity, healthy eating habits and maintaining a healthy weight are essential elements of a healthy lifestyle

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe

Dr Inchley also pointed to stark differences in the report between more affluent and less affluent families.

She said: “Almost twice as many young people from high socio-economic groups are eating vegetables, for example, compared with lower socio-economic groups. That is a massive difference.

“I think poverty must be a massive driver behind that.

“Also, young people growing up in poorer areas may be less likely to be able to access fresh fruit and vegetables, it can be more costly for younger people to buy them, and there’s maybe sort of cultural barriers around preparing fresh meals every day and so on.”

She said it was positive that, over time, children seem to be eating more fruit and vegetables and there has been a drop in sugary drinks consumption.

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said: “Regular physical activity, healthy eating habits and maintaining a healthy weight are essential elements of a healthy lifestyle.

“The report’s findings signal a need for targeted interventions to enable adolescents to adopt healthier behaviours and avoid habits that affect not only their current health and well-being, but also their future trajectories as adults.”

Other data in the study found 27% of 11-year-old girls and 24% of 11-year-old boys in England think they are too fat, as do 31% of girls and 23% of boys in Wales.

By age 15, 43% of girls and 29% of boys in England think they are too fat, rising to 50% of girls and 30% of boys in Wales.

From news to politics, travel to sport, culture to climate – The Independent has a host of free newsletters to suit your interests. To find the stories you want to read, and more, in your inbox, click here.

OTHER NEWS

28 minutes ago

Emma Raducanu turns down Olympics wild card – but Andy Murray in Team GB squad

28 minutes ago

Mathematician Reveals 'Equals' Has More Than One Meaning in Math

29 minutes ago

Candidates race into France's snap legislative poll but one convicted for spousal assault withdraws

29 minutes ago

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says use of Russian assets from Ukraine is not 'theft' despite Putin's claims

29 minutes ago

Maine police kill armed man after a night of gunfire and burned homes

30 minutes ago

How Apple, Microsoft and 3 other tech giants can make money with AI geared to consumers

30 minutes ago

Guy Haymes death: Why Jayson Brett Dal Molin didn't face court after being charged with murder of much-loved surfer on Sydney's northern beaches

33 minutes ago

‘We Thank PM Modi’: Sharad Pawar’s Remark With Allies Stings BJP

33 minutes ago

Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren to Star in ‘Last Five Years’ on Broadway

35 minutes ago

Celtics Fans Send Desperate Plea to Jayson Tatum Ahead of NBA Finals Game 5

35 minutes ago

Inside Finland’s first NATO mission with UK forces in show of strength to Putin

35 minutes ago

Las Vegas Raiders post-minicamp starting offense projection: Who's QB?

35 minutes ago

Six MAD Shorts heading to the Toronto Arab Film Festival

35 minutes ago

Kate Middleton's 'perfect' Father's Day photo of Prince William and their children sends royal fans into a frenzy as they say they're left in tears over sweet 'we love you, Papa!' message

35 minutes ago

Dozens of firefighters tackle raging inferno inside flat in London tower block - as four people are rushed to hospital

35 minutes ago

Biden slams the Supreme Court and rips into Trump at Jimmy Kimmel-hosted celebrity fundraiser attended by Obama, George Clooney and Julia Roberts

35 minutes ago

Eat more protein and less carbs if you want to lose weight and feel less hungry, new study suggests

38 minutes ago

'Dan Hurley just used and abused the Los Angeles Lakers.' — Skip on Hurley deciding to stay at UConn

39 minutes ago

Hamburg police shoot man with axe and ‘Molotov cocktail’ ahead of Euro 2024 game

39 minutes ago

Houston native making Hollywood dreams come true, and wants to bring some of it back to Space City

40 minutes ago

Scorching heat, rising humidity in Chicago's forecast Sunday, along with threat of storms

40 minutes ago

CBIC mounting multi-modal awareness against frauds in name of Customs

40 minutes ago

He's played 70 games for Ten Hag: Man Utd eye 42m Branthwaite rival

40 minutes ago

WNBA All-Star Fires Stern Message To Players Who Want Caitlin Clark To Fail

40 minutes ago

Jack Draper WINS his first ATP Tour title as new Brit No 1 comes from a set down to beat Matteo Berrettini in the Stuttgart Open final

40 minutes ago

Woman who spent 43 years in prison has conviction overturned as case takes shocking twist

40 minutes ago

Serbia vs England - Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates as the Three Lions quest to 'Bring Football Home' gets underway against a Serbian team led by Mitrovic and Dusan Tadic

46 minutes ago

Data analyst reveals the state where gas prices are expected to increase to $10 per gallon

46 minutes ago

Video: Three Lions fans' booze-up kicks off ahead of England's Euros clash with Serbia TODAY - with new video showing supporters singing chorus of '10 German Bombers' in defiance of FA and police

46 minutes ago

Bec Judd reveals what REALLY happened to the red dress that launched her career at the 2004 Brownlow: 'It was definitely a moment'

46 minutes ago

Luis Diaz is caught by HORROR two-footed tackle in Colombia's friendly win against Bolivia as Liverpool fans fume over 'disgrace' as opposing defender isn't sent off

46 minutes ago

Levi Colwill 'is open to joining Bayern Munich' with new boss Vincent Kompany a keen admirer of the Chelsea defender

46 minutes ago

FBI agent and Twin Towers first responder reveal how likely another 9/11 attack is on U.S. soil...and why it will be even more deadly

47 minutes ago

Buck, Bajraktarevic spark Revolution to victory over Whitecaps

47 minutes ago

80 countries at Swiss conference agree territorial integrity of Ukraine must be basis of any peace

47 minutes ago

Haj 2024: 14 Jordanians dead, 17 missing in Saudi as authorities warn of high temperatures

47 minutes ago

BBC pundit convinced Levy will spend 60 million on Tottenham signing

47 minutes ago

Why bashing billionaires won’t solve the inequality crisis

47 minutes ago

Israel pauses military activity along southern Gaza road to facilitate aid

47 minutes ago

How England’s top private schools came to own 38,000 acres of land