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

23 minutes ago

Video: Michael Phelps says false doping accusations eroded 'a lifetime of mental health growth' - and now regulators turning a blind eye to accusations of China doing just that

23 minutes ago

Video: Nigel Farage makes thinly veiled swipe after being booed by crowd as he wins best news presenter at the TRIC Awards

24 minutes ago

Newly sworn-in ANC MP Zizi Kodwa: State’s case against me is ‘nonexistent’

24 minutes ago

John 5 Responds to Accusations of Guitar Miming With Motley Crue

24 minutes ago

Despite political uncertainty, Cape Town's office rental market thrives

24 minutes ago

Labor’s renewables-only approach ‘can’t’ stabilise Australia’s energy grid

24 minutes ago

Medihelp reports strong growth, more younger members join

24 minutes ago

Never (really) too young to have a will

24 minutes ago

Exciting call for nominations for the 2024 AWIEF Awards

24 minutes ago

Blockchain vs Crypto

24 minutes ago

Texas A&M beats Florida 6-0 to make CWS finals for 1st time as Gators shut out 1st time in 2 years

24 minutes ago

Generative AI sent to the dock in RIAA ‘BBL Drizzy’ legal action

24 minutes ago

The Matric mandate: a barrier to employment for South African youth

24 minutes ago

One of 2024's biggest new anime series will be shown in cinemas – one month before its Netflix and Crunchyroll release

24 minutes ago

Money Show host Bruce Whitfield to leave Primedia

24 minutes ago

Great Wolf Lodge water park in Webster will open earlier than expected, according to website

24 minutes ago

Employers' role in health and wellness to promote employee well-being, by Medshield

24 minutes ago

How environmental toxins and pollution affect our health, by Medshield

24 minutes ago

LA broadcast TV legend Tom Van Amburg — who gave Regis Philbin his daytime start — dead at 83

24 minutes ago

Video: Shocking moment thugs armed with Rambo knives fight in the middle of the day on residential London street

24 minutes ago

Everything you need to know about changes coming July 1

24 minutes ago

Coalition slams Prime Minister for not expelling rogue Labor Senator Fatima Payman

24 minutes ago

Former Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale and wife Julie Neale announce baby news

24 minutes ago

Toronto's Zach Edey eyes top 20 pick as Raptors continue rebuild in NBA draft

24 minutes ago

Aston Martin Valiant: A Hardcore Track Star With a Manual

24 minutes ago

Wes Streeting says Labour's rail nationalisation plan would bring down fares

24 minutes ago

Anthony Joshua set to land chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion against Daniel Dubois on September 21... as Oleksandr Usyk VACATES his IBF belt after taking rematch with Tyson Fury

24 minutes ago

Kevin Rudd joins Julian Assange as he arrives for court appearance

24 minutes ago

Now Nigel Farage suggests Zelensky should make peace with Putin

24 minutes ago

Multi-talented Kea Zawadi first female presenter of Algoa FM Top 30

24 minutes ago

5 free agents Kaizer Chiefs could bring to Naturena to bolster their squad

28 minutes ago

ESPN analyst ranks Patriots defense as top-five unit in NFL

28 minutes ago

Daybreak Foods, YES Programme partner to combat youth unemployment

28 minutes ago

CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia rallies after sell-off, lifts S&P 500 and Nasdaq

32 minutes ago

Gavin Newsom blasts 'delusional California bashers' in speech

33 minutes ago

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Teasing Answers to a Big Qunari Mystery

33 minutes ago

Fed's Bowman Says 'Not Yet' Appropriate to Cut Rates

33 minutes ago

Why Dunkin' Donuts' New Commercial Actress Looks So Familiar

33 minutes ago

Costly election pledges in France stoke fears of splurges that risk pushing country deeper into debt

33 minutes ago

Mark Cuban offloads 14 NFTs from his collection in two days