Recent research has claimed that Maltese 10- and 11-year-olds are the second fattest on earth and that more than 34 per cent of local children are classified as overweight or obese.
The World Health Organisation says that being overweight is so common in Europe that it risks becoming ‘the new norm’, with around a third of teenagers now heavier than is recommended for their health.
A number of risk factors contribute to obesity, such as lack of physical activity, unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyle and environmental factors.
The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity and its concomitant health risks justify widespread efforts towards prevention.
Engaging in physical activity on a regular basis is one effective approach to preventing and controlling the increasing rate of childhood obesity.
The scientific evidence available for the age group between five and 17 supports the overall conclusion that physical activity provides fundamental health benefits for child-ren and youth. Appropriate levels of physical activity contribute to the development of:
• healthy musculoskeletal tissues (bones, muscles and joints);
• healthy cardiovascular system (heart and lungs);
• neuromuscular awareness (coordination and movement control);
• maintenance of a healthy body weight.
Moreover, physical activity has been associated with psychological benefits in young people as it improves their control over symptoms of anxiety and depression and assists in social development by providing opportunities for self-expression, building self-confidence, social interaction and integration.
According to the WHO 2011 guidelines, children and youths aged five to 17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.
Recommended physical activity
Ages four to six: Suggested activities include running, swimming, tumbling, gymnastics, throwing and catching. As applies to all age groups, limit screen (PC/TV) time to less than two hours per day.
Ages six to nine: In this age group, children start to improve motor skills, visual tracking and balance. Parents should continue to encourage free play involving more sophisticated movement patterns with emphasis on fundamental skill acquisition. Exercise may include walking, dancing, skipping rope or riding a bike.
Organised sports (team sports like football and basketball) may be initiated, but they should have flexible rules and short instruction time, since these children have a limited ability to learn about team strategy.
Ages 10–12: Since visual tracking, balance and motor skills are fully developed, participation in complex sports (football, basketball, hockey, tennis, volleyball) is more feasible.
Adolescents: Adolescents are highly social and are influenced by their peers. Thus identifying activities that are of interest to the adolescent, especially those that are fun and include friends, is crucial for long-term participation. Physical activities may include personal fitness preferences (dance, yoga, running), active transportation (walking, cycling), and competitive and non-competitive sports. Ideally, enrolment in competitive contact and collision sports should be based on size and ability instead of age.
It is clear that promoting physical activity in children plays a crucial role in the life-long prevention of obesity.
Regular physical activity coupled with a good diet will help your children grow up to be strong and healthy adults.
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