DThe World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that school-aged children and adolescents engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. However, according to the latest “Child and Adolescent Health Study in Germany” (KiGGS study) carried out by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), only one in three boys and one in four girls achieve this recommendation in Germany. Current data from the KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse also shows that the proportion of school-aged adolescents suffering from motor development disorders has increased by a further 44 percent from 2012 to 2022.
Older young people are particularly affected: the increase was almost 120 percent among children fifteen to eighteen years old, 66 percent among children eleven to fourteen years old, and about 30 percent among children six to ten years old. Motor development deficits can affect gross motor skills, such as running and climbing, as well as fine motor skills, such as hand and finger movements, facial expressions, and facial expressions. Affected children, for example, walk unsteadily, trip more often, and have difficulty holding pens or cutlery.
Lack of exercise at a young age comes at the expense of physical fitness, and decreased endurance, mobility, muscle strength and coordination abilities can lead to physical diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or joint problems in the long run. but also to mental illnesses such as frustration, self-doubt and fears that lead to isolation.
According to KKH, one of the largest health insurance companies in Germany with 1.6 million insured, the corona pandemic, with schools and sports clubs temporarily closed, has accelerated the trend among the youngest people towards a lack of exercise. Parents should ensure that their children do not spend the rest of the day sitting at home on a smartphone or computer after school and homework. Two to three hours of school sports a week is not enough for healthy development.
Source: Frantfurter Allgemeine
I have been working as a news website author for the past year, and have written about a variety of healthcare-related topics. I am currently focusing on coverage of medical technology and innovation, as well as patient advocacy. I am also an avid cyclist and runner, and enjoy spending time outdoors exploring new trails or hitting the pavement for a run.