WHO report on teen inactivity highlights the need to reassess our efforts to secure a healthy generation

Narratives about the harmful effects of cellphone addiction among children are far too many to be an exception. That smartphones affect their behavioural and psychological development is also known. And now there is evidence that letting them become digital citizens all too early has cost them their physical well-being. This is what a recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the current and future health risks faced by teenagers proves. According to the findings, globally, eight out of every 10 teenagers are not as physically active as mandated by the world health body. India can take succour from the fact that it has fared better with 74 per cent of its children being less physically active. However, that does not mean there is no cause for worry. Of special concern are two highlights. First, three in four adolescents and teens do not get the mandatory one-hour of daily exercise, though they fare better than the 11 to 17 age group globally. Second, there’s a stark difference in the percentage of physical inactivity between boys and girls, 77.6 per cent for the former, 84.7 per cent for the latter.

While reasons for inactivity may differ across the world, the fact that the report has tracked data on a country and regional basis should enable researchers as well as Governments to address this as a human resource and health development issue. In the Indian context, two major problem areas should be immediately looked into. First, the prevalence of a culture that gives importance to education over physical activities due to the lack of sufficient programmes. Second, the lack of  encouragement on part of the teachers as well as parents to equalise both physical and mental development. The onus lies on the schools to inculcate a habit of physical exercise. Right to play legislation anyone?