According to the Global Wellness Foundation, "The World Health Organisation (WHO)... 81% of 11 to 17-year-olds are not physically active, with girls being more affected (85% inactive, compared to 78% of boys)" (2023). These findings are consistent with the findings of Ha et al. (2021), who noted that "globally, 80% of adolescents are insufficiently active, and many engage in ≥ (more than) two hours of daily recreational screen time" (Ha et al., 2021).
Physical inactivity among children and adolescents is a cause for grave concern, given its association with various health issues, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health problems.
According to the NCD Alliance, "Higher rates of inactivity are partly due to leisure time spent sitting - watching television, playing video games, and using the computer. Physical activity associated with work, tasks at home, and transportation has (sic)also declined due to economic growth, technological advancements, and social changes."
How can this growing problem be arrested?
The WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 addresses physical inactivity across all demographics to ensure that people are more active for a healthier world. (https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/272722/9789241514187-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y)
The global action plan rests on four strategic objectives and 20 policy actions:
1 Create Active Societies—Enhance knowledge and appreciation of and appreciation for the multiple benefits of regular physical activity, according to ability and at all ages, to create positive social norms and attitudes and a paradigm shift in society.
2 Create Active Environments—We need to create supportive spaces and places that promote and safeguard the rights of all people of all ages and abilities to have equitable access to safe areas and spaces in their cities and communities where they can engage in regular physical activity.
3 Create Active People: Outline the multiple settings in which increased programmes and opportunities can help people of all ages and abilities engage in regular physical activity as individuals, families, and communities.
4 Create Active Systems- outline the investments needed to strengthen the systems necessary to implement effective and coordinated international, national, and subnational action to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. These actions address governance, leadership, multisectoral partnerships, workforce capabilities, advocacy, information systems, and financing mechanisms across all relevant sectors.
Interventions can take the form of:
· School-based Interventions promote physical education and after-school programmes. This recommendation, however, will depend heavily on the philosophy and commitment of the school's administration and parents toward physical activity. Sports and Family Days are good examples of getting children and adults involved in physical activity; however, they must not be one-off events in the school year calendar.
· Community-based interventions, where community groups, religious groups, and other stakeholders promote active lifestyles among adults and children. More significant effort must be made to make full use of recreation grounds in communities. A major drawback, however, may be the current crime situation, which may dissuade persons from using recreational facilities even where recreational grounds have floodlights.
· Technology-based interventions such as wearables and mobile applications are becoming trendy in increasing physical activity, especially among adolescents and young adults. However, Western et al. (2021) remarked that unless the economic disparity between the working class and the middle to upper classes is addressed, the benefits of using technology will not significantly impact physical activity on people of low social and economic status.
Ensuring the future generation is healthier starts now; failure to do so will severely impact society's holistic development.
