Global Excercise
Abstract
We are in throes of a global epidemic of childhood inactivity, which will have non-trivial repercussions in adult life. A recent Lancet study that analysed activity levels between 2001 and 2016 showed that four in five of 11- to 17-year-olds around the world are not taking enough physical exercise,1 with long-term effects on health, brain development and social skills. Exercise improves cognitive function, makes for easier learning, and enhances pro-social behaviour.
The inactivity epidemic is due to the failure to undertake the recommended daily dose of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise, i.e. to breathlessness. This a universal problem that appears to afflict both developed and developing countries.
In addition to controlling weight, physical activity improves cardiopulmonary function and reserve and mental health and wellbeing, and strengthens bone and muscle. In the long term, physical activity and its benefits reduces the risk of many diseases including ischaemic heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes and cancer. Indeed, it is estimate that lack of exercise puts one in four adults at risk of these conditions.
One of the reasons for inactivity may be the focus on academic performance over physical fitness. Other factors include possibly limited access to accessible, affordable and safe sport and leisure facilities. The role of screen time has also been implicated and this includes gaming and social media.
Overall, girls are likelier to suffer from inactivity.1 In some countries, this may be a cultural issue with girls discouraged from physical activity, unlike boys. These findings result in increased levels of childhood overweight and obesity, as recently shown in this very country.2 It would be ideal were national action to be taken to perhaps promote increased physical activity in schools.
References
- Guthold R, Stevens GA, Riley LM, Bull FC. Global trends in insufficient physical activity among adolescents: a pooled analysis of 298 population-based surveys with 1·6 million participants. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2019 Nov 21;S2352-4642(19)30323-2. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30323-2. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 31761562.
- Grech V, Aquilina S, Camilleri E, Spiteri K, Busuttil ML, Sant'Angelo VF, Calleja N. The Malta Childhood National Body Mass Index Study: A Population Study. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017 Sep;65(3):327-331. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001430. PMID: 27749614.
Figure
Test image
License
The Editorial Board retains the copyright of all material published in the Malta Medical Journal. Any reprint in any form of any part will require permission from the Editorial Board. Material submitted to the Editorial Board will not be returned, unless specifically requested.
