In Spain, 33.4% of children between the ages of 8 and 16 are overweight or obese, according to the ‘Pasos 2022’ study carried out by the Gasol Foundation. This is a significant risk factor for health, which reduces both quality and life expectancy. In this regard, the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) highlights the importance of regular physical exercise in children and adolescents to prevent and treat psycho-affective situations, bone demineralization and some types of cancer.
The AEP points out that in recent years the trend of sedentary lifestyle among young people has increased. In children and adolescents, the body emphasizes the recommendation of at least 60 minutes of exercise daily with a moderate to high intensity, which can be divided into two or more sessions. In addition, they recommend giving priority to aerobic exercise and interspersing it with vigorous activities for muscle and bone strengthening three times a week.
Leisure activities in adolescence are moving more and more towards a sedentary lifestyle. While young children are more likely to run and play actively on the playground, in the park, and at playtime at home, with adolescents this practice may wane. When they meet their friends or are at home, hobbies such as having a drink on a terrace, watching television, playing video games or consulting social networks prevail. Therefore, it is convenient to focus on reducing this sedentary lifestyle by promoting a more active and, therefore, healthier lifestyle.
