Unfit for life?

摘要

Central to London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was the government's commitment to improve competitive sport and the sporting habits of young people (All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, 2019). But a survey published last December by Sport England (2018) makes for dismal reading: just 17.5% of children aged five to 16 do the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day, while 32.9% do less than 30 minutes. The survey looked at more than 100,000 children and young people. Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said of the findings: 'This research is a big wake-up call for all of us. We all care about the health and wellbeing of our children. These results tell us that what is currently being done to support them is not enough and change is required.' Meanwhile, a report by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA, 2018), compared childhood physical activity levels in 49 countries. Researchers from each participating country produced a report card, and UK countries did not fare well. England got a C- for overall physical activity and a D+ for sedentary behaviour; Wales got a D+ for overall physical activity and an F for sedentary behaviour; and Scotland got an F both for overall physical activity and sedentary behaviour. On other measures - organised sport and physical activity, and active transportation - Scotland fared better (B and C respectively) and scored higher than England and Wales.