In a largest research of its kind, the National Institutes of Health has found that the physical activity level in the US children have dropped significantly between age 9 and age 15, when most failed to reach the daily recommended activity level. The researchers evaluated the children to determine whether they achieved the minimum 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommended for children. At age 9, the children averaged roughly three hours of MVPA on weekdays and weekends. By age 15, however, they averaged only 40 minutes per weekday, and 35 minutes per weekend.
The researchers found that, at ages 9 and 11, more than 90 percent of the children met the recommended level of 60 minutes or more of MVPA each day. By age 15, however, only 31 percent met the recommended level on weekdays, and 17 percent met the recommended level on weekends. The researchers estimated that physical activity declined by about 40 minutes per day each year until, by age 15, most failed to reach the daily recommended activity level.
According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the children and adolescents must engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. As examples of moderate physical activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list walking briskly, dancing, swimming, or bicycling on level terrain. Vigorous physical activity includes such activities as jogging, high-impact aerobic dancing, swimming continuous laps, or bicycling uphill.
Lead authors of the study explained that local school systems have a role to play, by ensuring children receive periodic recess breaks and daily active physical education. He added that local governments also could strive to provide safe biking and walking routes around schools.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), The Nation’s Medical Research Agency includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases.
Source: NIH News
Filed under Health, Obesity
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In a largest research of its kind, the National Institutes of Health has found that the physical activity level in the US children have dropped significantly between age 9 and age 15, when most failed to reach the daily recommended activity level. The researchers evaluated the children to determine whether they achieved the minimum 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommended for children. At age 9, the children averaged roughly three hours of MVPA on weekdays and weekends. By age 15, however, they averaged only 40 minutes per weekday, and 35 minutes per weekend.
