Physical Activity and Health
Childhood
obesity has almost doubled since the mid 1980’s
and is a trend that shows no signs of stopping. Overweight
and obesity are associated with major chronic illnesses,
including hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes,
arthritis, and certain forms of cancer. Obesity is a consequence
of either or both overeating or under activity. The true
scale of the role for physical activity, exercise and fitness
on our health is being widely studied and as new findings
emerge, they will help to focus attention more appropriately
on this crucial issue. At long last however, physical activity
is being taken seriously as a critical lifestyle factor and ‘area
of concern’ for the nations health, particularly
for our children. Physical
Activity is the topic for one of three new pages on
the HET website
covering Food & Lifestyle issues.
The other pages will cover Food & Health and Educational
Resources. Over the next few months we’ll be regularly
adding to the content on these pages and would welcome your
feedback.
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The
British Nutrition Foundation conference, held on 21 June
2003, Nutrition:
Fact or Science Fiction? covered
several topical issues including the importance of physical
activity and obesity for children’s health. BNF
have just produced a summary of the talks presented at
their conference in their
useful 10 key facts format. You can view details of the conference
by visiting: www.nutrition.org.uk/conferences/TenKeyFacts.html.
An extract covering the obesity and physical activity key facts
is reproduced here, with permission of BNF.
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Physical Activity and Health
- Key Facts
Danyella Roddis, Education Officer
British Nutrition Foundation |
In
the last 20 years the prevalence of obesity and overweight
in schoolchildren has trebled with marked differences between
ethnic groups, geographical regions and socio-economic status.
Today 1 in 5 children is overweight (3 to 4% obese), with many
of these likely to develop risk factors for serious chronic
diseases such as diabetes and heart disease before reaching
adulthood. The key findings amongst overweight and obesity
in young people include:
• no
significant difference in prevalence between boys and
girls;
• prevalence tends to be highest in Asian children, low social class, Scotland
and Wales;
• increases in overweight are greatest in younger age groups;
• increases in Body Mass Index (BMI) may underestimate true increase in
fatness and disease risk. |
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Diet
and physical inactivity are both important contributors
to excess weight gain. BMI is one indicator of body
size and waist circumference measurements are an indicator
of body fat distribution. Studies have shown there
has
been a large increase in waist circumference in young
people. There has been an increase of 6cm, in all age
groups, especially in girls throughout the last 10
years in the UK, although height has remained the same.
Along
with health problems, there are significant social
and psychological effects of obesity. As a result,
overweight
children show a decrease in educational attainment
and an increased likelihood of unemployment. Children
who
develop childhood diabetes as a result of being overweight
are more likely to be obese adults. Energy intake is
exceeding requirements in many children largely due
to energy dense diets, excessive / inappropriate snacking,
large portions, unbalanced diet, irresponsible marketing
of food, prolonged TV viewing / sedentary behaviour,
and adverse family influences.
Physical activity and
diet are particularly difficult to assess
in children. Normal markers, such as incidence of mortality
and lifestyle disease are not applicable. However, we know
that modern living makes it much more difficult for youngsters
to build activity into their lives. Factors include advancing
technology that has reduced energy expenditure around the home;
school and shopping environments. An increasing reliance on
the car has reduced walking, cycling and active play. Also,
parents are anxious about traffic, abduction and bullying and
are becoming more reluctant to allow children to be unaccompanied
outside the home. At the same time, home screen entertainment
(television / computers) has increased in choice and access.
There have been no appreciable increases in sport and exercise
participation to compensate. The result is that over half of
the children in the UK are less active than they need to be
for optimal health and growth and this worsens with age. At
all ages girls are less active than boys and during adolescence
they do very little at all.
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• HEA
Primary Recommendation
All young people should participate in physical activity of at least moderate
intensity for one hour per day. Young people who currently do little activity
should participate in physical activity of at least moderate intensity for a
minimum of half an hour a day.
• HEA Secondary Recommendation
At least twice a week, some of these activities should help to enhance and maintain
muscular strength and flexibility, and bone health.
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Data
show that school days are more active than weekends and days
at home during the holidays. Journeys and breaks during the school
day provide opportunities for increasing children’s current
activity and those who walk to school are generally more active.
To improve the health and well-being of young people, a multi-agency
approach is required that produces town planning and transport
policy that can increase walking, cycling and active outdoor
play, and that assists parents in the provision of active opportunities
with children. Schools will need to work with local authorities
to provide safe routes, suitable storage facilities and play
areas. Becoming an active school may also promote a healthier
lifestyle for young people. An active school is a school which
has a school committee and policy which includes:
• an
active school co-ordinator;
• active transport scheme;
• facilities for active play at breaks and lunch;
• wide range of extra-curricular sports and exercise opportunities;
• strong links with community sport and exercise. |
An active school also promotes confidence and perceived competence
in all children. It encourages personal mastery and improvement
and physically educates youngsters about exercising and eating
well. The curriculum should provide more time for sport and
physical education. This in turn must shift its emphasis to
be attractive to the whole range of children, but particularly
those who are already health ‘needy’ and perhaps
unstimulated by a highly competitive approach.
The British Nutrition Foundation provides independent and authoritative
information on the relationship between food, nutrition and
health. For more information about the BNF, see our website,
www.nutrition.org.uk, or contact us at High Holborn House,
52-54 High Holborn, London WC1V 6RQ; Tel: 020 7404 6504, Fax:
020 7404 6747, E-mail postbox@nutrition.org.uk.
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