Exploring the risks of an inactive and sedentary lifestyle for children and adolescents
In today’s world children have endless opportunities to engage in sedentary behaviour. Some factors which increase inactivity are ecological such as the increased use of vehicles and the greater access to televisions, computers (Smith & Biddle, 2008). However, some are socially favoured such as doing school homework or sitting during lectures, classes (Public Health England, 2014). This paper will argue that those children (including young children under 5) and adolescents (under 18) who do not meet the guidelines of physical activity are more in danger of developing diseases.
The National Health Service has set out physical activity guidelines for every age group, including young children (under 5 years), children and adolescence. Their recommendation is readily available on their website with clear break down on how much activity is necessary for maintaining a healthy body, what is considered moderate or vigorous activity and what activities help to develop and maintain muscle mass and healthy bones. The page was last reviewed in 2015 and the current advice for children aged 5 to 18 is to engage in “at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day” (NHS, 2015) which could be either vigorous or …show more content…
Based on the findings of the Health Survey for England 29% of children aged 2-15 are overweight or obese in England (Public Health England 2016, 2016). At this age the diseases associated with obesity are unlikely to develop but the risk factor is that overweight children are more likely to stay overweight as adults, meaning that in adulthood the negative effect of childhood obesity will be experienced (US. Surgeon General,
In today’s world children have endless opportunities to engage in sedentary behaviour. Some factors which increase inactivity are ecological such as the increased use of vehicles and the greater access to televisions, computers (Smith & Biddle, 2008). However, some are socially favoured such as doing school homework or sitting during lectures, classes (Public Health England, 2014). This paper will argue that those children (including young children under 5) and adolescents (under 18) who do not meet the guidelines of physical activity are more in danger of developing diseases.
The National Health Service has set out physical activity guidelines for every age group, including young children (under 5 years), children and adolescence. Their recommendation is readily available on their website with clear break down on how much activity is necessary for maintaining a healthy body, what is considered moderate or vigorous activity and what activities help to develop and maintain muscle mass and healthy bones. The page was last reviewed in 2015 and the current advice for children aged 5 to 18 is to engage in “at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day” (NHS, 2015) which could be either vigorous or …show more content…
Based on the findings of the Health Survey for England 29% of children aged 2-15 are overweight or obese in England (Public Health England 2016, 2016). At this age the diseases associated with obesity are unlikely to develop but the risk factor is that overweight children are more likely to stay overweight as adults, meaning that in adulthood the negative effect of childhood obesity will be experienced (US. Surgeon General,