Child Activity Levels Haven’t Returned To Normal Post Pandemic

A study by the University of Bristol has found that child physical activity levels dropped during the Covid crisis and haven’t recovered since the end of the lockdowns.

The study also revealed that around two thirds of the UK’s children are not meeting recommended activity levels.

According to The Guardian:

The UK’s chief medical officers recommend that all children and young people should take part in an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.

However, the study led by the University of Bristol found that by the end of 2021, only a third were meeting the national recommended physical activity guidelines.

While there was no change in their parents’ physical activity levels, the findings showed 10-11-year-olds took part in on average just 56 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity during weekdays from last April to December.

Researchers said that was around eight minutes on average less – a drop of 13% – than children of a similar age were doing before the pandemic.

It found children were less active at the weekend than during the week, taking part in 46 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity during weekend days. This was also about eight minutes lower than children who were measured using the same methods before the pandemic.

The study also revealed a marked increase in sedentary time, with children spending 25 minutes longer sitting down each day during the week than previously.

“It was surprising, the extent children’s physical activity levels had fallen after the pandemic, indicating that changes in physical activity patterns did not revert to previous levels once freedoms had been restored,” said the study’s senior author, Prof Russ Jago, of the University of Bristol.

“These findings highlight a greater need to work with children, families, schools and communities to maximise the opportunities for children to be physically active as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.”

 

 

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