Health experts in the United Kingdom are calling for a focus on children’s physical fitness, as new research reveals concerning changes to children’s health and physical fitness following the COVID-19 pandemic.
A study states that in the United Kingdom children’s health and physical fitness have declined significantly over a 5-year period leading up to 2018, with average scores dropping 50% compared to where they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Fitness
When COVID-19 hit the United Kingdom in 2020, infection control measures led to the closure of schools for most pupils; outdoor playgrounds and sports clubs closed, and for many months outdoor exercise was limited to only one hour per day.
‘Lockdown restrictions had a distinct impact on childrens fitness, with nearly half of children presenting as being obese and more than half classified as unfit.’
Such unplanned restrictions have had a distinct impact on children’s physical and mental health. To explore the effect of Lockdown on Children’s fitness, new research was conducted and published in the Journal of Sports Sciences.
Here’s What Research Says
The new research conducted by Newcastle University (UK), along with the University of South Australia, Edinburgh Napier University, and Murdoch University, assessed 1-year changes in children’s physical fitness and health-related quality of life and body mass index (BMI), after the 2020 COVID-19 UK lockdowns.
Researchers found that for children 8 to 10 years old: 51% of children were classed as ‘unfit’ (compared with 35% at baseline) and 47% of children were overweight or obese (compared with 33% at baseline).
The children’s BMI increased by an average of 6.8 kg, about twice the amount expected at this time.
“Physical fitness is incredibly important for children of all ages, with fitness linked to a range of health outcomes, including heart and skeletal health, body composition, and mental wellbeing,” says Dr. Naomi Burn, Researcher, University of Southern Australia.
These findings show that physical fitness was neglected during the lockdown period. While the pandemic persists, it is the right time to recognize the need to keep kids healthy and active. Not only will this benefit them now, but also will help them later in life.
Right now, governments, schools, and communities should establish programs and policies that can support involvement in sports and physical activities. This is vital for children’s health recovery both post-lockdown and in the case of future restrictions.
Source: Medindia
