Hype up fitness to support kids' health post-lockdowns, experts urge


Date:
April 28, 2022
Source:
University of South Australia
Summary:
As COVID-19 reaches record levels in the UK, health experts 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 pandemic.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
As COVID-19 reaches record levels in the UK, health experts 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 pandemic.


========================================================================== Conducted by Newcastle University (UK), the University of South Australia, Edinburgh Napier University and Murdoch University, the study assessed
one-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 8-10 years old:
* 51 per cent of children were classed as 'unfit' (compared with
35 per
cent at baseline)
* 47 per cent of children were overweight or obese (compared with
33 per
cent at baseline)
* Children's body mass increased by an average of 6.8 kg, about
twice the
amount expected in this time period.

UniSA researcher, Dr Naomi Burn says the study highlights the vital
importance of physical fitness for children's health and wellbeing, post-pandemic.

"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," Dr Burn says.

"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.

"Such unprecedented restrictions have had a distinct impact on children's physical and mental health, with nearly half of children presenting as
being obese and more than half classified as unfit.

"While the pandemic persists, we need to recognise the need to keep kids healthy and active. Not only will this benefit them now, but also later
in life.

"Right now, we need governments, schools and communities to 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."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_South_Australia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Laura Basterfield, Naomi L Burn, Brook Galna, Hannah Batten,
Louis Goffe,
Guoda Karoblyte, Matt Lawn, Kathryn L Weston. Changes in children's
physical fitness, BMI and health-related quality of life after
the first 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in England: A longitudinal
study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 2022; 40 (10): 1088 DOI:
10.1080/02640414.2022.2047504 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220427211256.htm

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