Youth Health: Smartphone or Sports Club?

eAn hour's exercise a day is enough for children and adolescents, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) – but only a few young people can manage this workload. According to a WHO study, four out of five young people around the world are not doing enough. Only one fifth of the 11 to 17 year olds are sufficiently active. Even German teenagers in the study in the magazine "The Lancet" of this Friday cut off badly: 79.7 percent of boys and even 87.9 percent of girls in 2016 were physically not active enough. Compared to 2001, the figures for Germany have barely changed, and there have been only minor improvements worldwide.

"We've had an electronic revolution that has obviously changed the movement patterns of teenagers – and encouraged them to sit more, be less active, drive more, walk less," says Leanne Riley, one of the co-authors of the study , The young people ultimately played more digitally than really being active.

Another reason for lack of physical activity is also the question of security in some regions or environments. "There are environments where it is becoming increasingly dangerous to be outside and to be active. If it is not safe enough to be outside, then kids are less likely to walk to school or ride their bikes, "says Riley.

Biggest gender differences in industrialized countries

The WHO recommends that children and adolescents between the ages of five and 17 should move at least 60 minutes a day. Everything beyond that would also be beneficial for your health. Meanwhile, adults (18-64 years old) should exercise at least 150 minutes per week or, alternatively, exercise at least 75 minutes.