In his new investigation conducted between 2022 and 2023, the Sciensano health institute reveals a worrying trend: 2 out of 3 children do not move enough. Even though the number of children going to school on foot, by bike or by scooter (non-electric) has increased and more of them are members of a sports club than 10 years ago , there are far fewer of them than before to respect the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) in terms of physical activity… When we know that 1 in 5 young people are overweight, this finding is alarming.
WHO recommendations
Besides, do you know these famous recommendations? The WHO estimates that children aged 3 to 4 years should move at least 180 minutes a day, including 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. Children aged 5 to 17 should practice moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for 60 minutes per day and perform vigorous intensity physical activity at least 3 times per week. Currently, only 31% of children aged 3 to 9 and 19% of adolescents meet these recommendations.
And in adults?
That said, we are far from setting an example for younger people, since the percentage of adults achieving the recommended 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity has remained unchanged for 10 years. No progress therefore, we continue to sit too long and far exceed the screen time recommended by the WHO in our free time.
Shall we move?
The message of Sciensano is clear: «Move more, spend fewer hours sitting and less time in front of screens.» And for good reason! Physical activity has many benefits, both for physical health and mental health, starting from childhood.
Would you like to know more about these benefits, just to motivate yourself? We tell you more in this article. As a bonus, you will discover some practical and easy tips to implement in your daily life (and that of your family) to move more. Make it your new resolution to start the year off right!
In his new investigation conducted between 2022 and 2023, the Sciensano health institute reveals a worrying trend: 2 out of 3 children do not move enough. Even though the number of children going to school on foot, by bike or by scooter (non-electric) has increased and more of them are members of a sports club than 10 years ago , there are far fewer of them than before to respect the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) in terms of physical activity… When we know that 1 in 5 young people are overweight, this finding is alarming.
WHO recommendations
Besides, do you know these famous recommendations? The WHO estimates that children aged 3 to 4 years should move at least 180 minutes a day, including 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. Children aged 5 to 17 should practice moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity for 60 minutes per day and perform vigorous-intensity physical activity at least 3 times per week. Currently, only 31% of children aged 3 to 9 and 19% of adolescents meet these recommendations.
And in adults?
That said, we are far from setting an example for younger people, since the percentage of adults achieving the recommended 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity has remained unchanged for 10 years. No progress therefore, we continue to sit too long and far exceed the screen time recommended by the WHO in our free time.
Shall we move?
The message of Sciensano is clear: «Move more, spend fewer hours sitting and less time in front of screens.» And for good reason! Physical activity has many benefits, both for physical health and mental health, starting from childhood.
Would you like to know more about these benefits, just to motivate yourself? We tell you more in this article. As a bonus, you will discover some practical and easy tips to implement in your daily life (and that of your family) to move more. Make it your new resolution to start the year off right!
