Get out of the exercise vicious circle!
"Bird flies, fish swims, man runs" Emil Zatopek, the legendary Czech long-distance runner, once said. And the man was right! Running, racing and exercise are part of our basic genetic make-up. But they should also do it - especially children.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a physical activity recommendation for children: 60 to 90 minutes of "active movement" per day. Less than half of children currently fulfil this recommendation! And the trend is falling!
The consequences: The risk of obesity is increasing. Because how much you weigh is made up of the following factors: a lot of genetic predisposition, energy intake - and energy consumption, i.e. exercise. Currently, every 6th child and every 5th adolescent is overweight: And the trend is rising. And those affected end up in a vicious circle: they become sluggish, enjoy exercise less and less, and therefore exercise less and less ...
The consequences of being overweight are probably generally known:
- Posture: back problems, muscle tone, coordination ... This also increases the risk of accidents. - Less mental performance, less emotional balance, less stress reduction.
But why are children moving less and less?
- Less free space for movement (although there are big differences between urban and rural areas) - Less appreciation of free play - Media consumption - Parents as role models (here too: less than half of parents achieve the WHO target for physical activity)
What does this mean? If we don't change anything, it will have a negative, very negative impact on health, the labour force and the economy. And in addition to the personal health problems, it will cost us a lot of money as a society!
That's why it's better to take money in hand now and invest in ...
- ... Play areas/open spaces - ... Education: reduce media consumption (e.g. screen-free until 3)
And we should all be role models: Exercise must become a habit again!
Everyone has a duty here. But where else do you have the easiest access to children? In daycare centres and schools: that's where "Move! Movement! Movement!" must be implemented and promoted.
Sports clubs are also hugely important. They provide a safe framework, professional guidance, a group feeling and regularity. After all, it is always easier to overcome your inner couch potato together than alone - although fortunately this is not really necessary with children because the genetic programme (see above) still works and in the vast majority of cases there is still a natural urge to exercise.
In other words, children actually have a natural desire to move. We just need to encourage it more and tease it out of them!
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