Canadians drop the ball on kids getting enough physical activity, report says
Canadians are not up to par when it comes to ensuring their kids are getting enough exercise, according to a recent report.
Non-for-profit PartcipACTION released this year's report card on youth physical health, indicating a concerning downward trend.
Researchers found children and youth in Canada were less active than in 2020, giving a D grade for overall physical activity, downgraded from the D+ in 2020.
The report implies that 28 per cent of kids get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
"It's probably not a surprise why we've seen that decline given the last two years, the opportunities to get active were removed. Schools shifted to a virtual setting. We were heavily reliant on screens, more so than usual in regards to how we were learning," says ParticipAction's Scientific Director, Dr. Leigh Vanderloo.
Not only has screen use increased for education purposes, but only 18 per cent of kids hit the daily recommended two-hour cap for recreational screen time, resulting in an F for sedentary behaviour on the report card.
"It's really important that we start to look at ways on how we can start replacing screen use and time spent engaging on-screen use with other forms of recreation, even reading," says Dr.Vanderloo.
She recommends that adults and parents look at their screen use habits, so it's not just on the child.
"Are we on screens a lot at home? Do we have screens in the bedroom? Do we allow screens at the dinner table," she adds.
Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital's Chief of Neonatal & Paediatric Medicine, Dr. Ryan Smith, says insufficient physical activity can pose serious health risks in children.
"Increased obesity and overweight rates in childhood population, including hypertension, high blood pressure, risk of Type 2 Diabetes which has its own complications, increased cholesterol and liquid levels," says Dr.Smith.
Dr. Vanderloo says it's also essential to look at social barriers to health, including income, education and geography.
"To really ensure that those families and those children have the necessary supports in place to help make the healthy choice the easy choice," she adds.
However, there were some positive spots in this year's report. Dr. Vanderloo says active play and active transportation improved and that more families have embraced parks, trails and outdoor spaces.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.