Kids need more activity, less TV: report
The British government has issued a report urging families to switch off the television and to get moving.
This week Public Health England published a briefing paper that points to the link between children's screen time and lower levels of well-being. Kids who spend more time on computers, watching TV, and playing video games tend to have higher levels of anxiety and depression, the report said.
In the UK, 62 percent of 11-year olds, 71 percent of 13-year olds and 68 percent of 15-year olds report watching more than two hours of TV a day on weekdays, compared to Switzerland where the figure is less than 35 percent across all three age groups.
According to the most recent surveys, more than 85 percent of UK children rated their life satisfaction highly, placing the UK 14th in a comparison of 29 countries. The Netherlands was highest, with just under 95 percent of children reporting high life satisfaction.
A new UK government campaign called Changed4Life encourages families to make the following four lifestyle changes:
1. Limit screen time: swap time in front of the television or tablet with something active.
2. Park the car: Opt for walking or cycling instead.
3. 10-minute workouts: By adding in 10-minute activity bursts here and there, you can build up to a goal of one hour a day of exercise.
4. Limit treats: swap unhealthy, fatty treats for healthy options.
"There are many complex factors that affect a child's well-being such as the wider environment they live in and their social, financial and family circumstances," said Professor Kevin Fenton, Public Health England's Director of Health and Wellbeing. "But there are also some very simple things we can all do every day with our children to help improve their health and wellbeing."
"When we asked children about their well-being...we found a strong association with being active and being happy," added Lil Caprani of UK children's charity The Children's Society. "Things like cycling, swimming or playing football all had a clear relationship, but simple things like just going for walks were associated with higher well-being."
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-healthy-behaviour-supports-childrens-wellbeing
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