 |
|
|
 |
23 Jun 2017
Teenagers as inactive as 60-year-olds, study concludes
BY
Deven Pamben
|
The study found that 50 percent of male and 75 percent of female adolescents did not meet WHO recommendations
Physical activity levels among teenagers are similar to that of 60-year olds, according to US research. The study confirmed that World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a day for children aged five to 17 years were not being met.
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers in Baltimore, Maryland, used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2003-2004 and 2005-2006. They analysed the data of 12,529 participants who wore tracking devices for seven straight days, removing them when taking a bath or at bedtime. The devices measured how much time participants were sedentary or engaged in light or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
Findings were broken down into five age groups: children (ages six to 11); adolescents (ages 12 to 19); young adults (ages 20 to 29); adults at midlife (ages 31 to 59); and older adults (age 60 to 84). Forty-nine percent were male and 51 per cent were female.
More than 25 percent of boys and 50 percent of girls aged six to 11 and more than 50 percent of male and 75 percent of female adolescents aged 12 to 19 did not meet the WHO recommendation.
The findings, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, showed that 20-somethings were the only group that saw an increase in activity levels, with exercise spread out throughout the day.
For all age groups, males generally had higher activity levels than females, particularly high-intensity exercise, but after midlife, these levels dropped off sharply compared to females. Among adults 60 years and older, males were more sedentary and had lower light-intensity activity levels than females.
The study’s senior author, Vadim Zipunnikov, assistant professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of Biostatistics, said: “Activity levels at the end of adolescence were alarmingly low, and by age 19, they were comparable to 60-year-olds. For school-age children, the primary window for activity was the afternoon between 2 and 6pm. So the big question is how do we modify daily schedules, in schools for example, to be more conducive to increasing physical activity?
“The goal of campaigns aimed at increasing physical activity has focused on increasing higher-intensity exercise. Our study suggests that these efforts should consider time of day and also focus on increasing lower-intensity physical activity and reducing inactivity.”
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Connect with
World Leisure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| News headlines |
|
|
 |
 |
|
26 Apr 2024
There is speculation that Basic Fit will sell the five Spanish Holmes Place clubs it has just acquired from RSG Group in a 47-club deal. In the Q1
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
25 Apr 2024
Kerzner International has signed deals to operate two new Siro recovery hotels in Mexico and Saudi Arabia, following the launch of the inaugural Siro
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
24 Apr 2024
The US spa industry is continuing its upward trajectory, achieving an unprecedented milestone with a record-breaking revenue of US$21.3 billion in
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
24 Apr 2024
Short-term incentives to exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead to sustained increases in activity, according to new
.... more>> |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Company profile |
|
Les Mills UK
For more than 50 years Les Mills has been leading the way in fitness. We produce 22 group fitness programmes, backed by science, to be experienced in club or at home via Les Mills+
View full profile>> |
|
| Catalogue gallery |
|
|
| Featured Supplier |
|
 |
|
|
|
in this issue
• Virgin gets right to wipe out rent arrears
• Fitness industry mourns passing of Jan Spaticchia
• STA offers mindfulness resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| World Leisure jobs |
 |
Leisure Centre Duty Manager
Salary: £24,687.57pa + pension + health care + benefits
Location: Uppingham, Oakham, UK
Company: Uppingham School
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Diary dates |
|
| Powered
by leisurediary.com |
 |
|
|
|
|
