Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1270964
JAMES DEBONO MALTESE children's sedentary habits are being exacerbated by "extreme academic pressures" and "the urbanisation of Mal- tese villages with ever-decreas- ing safe areas for children to play in", a study carried out by doctors says. The study, published in the Malta Medical Journal, said that in their spare time, children pre- fer to take up activities that do not involve exercise: 55% of the study's participants were either overweight or obese. The study investigated the physical activity and fitness lev- els in Maltese children at pri- mary school level and was based on the replies of 120 children aged 9 from three State primary schools within the St Benedict's College network, who complet- ed a questionnaire measuring general levels of physical activity in children in terms of frequen- cy, intensity and duration. The study indicated that chil- dren still have plenty of time for out-of-school physical activities. Children performed most of their physical activities during the weekend and on Wednes- days. After deducting time spent in school and accounting for one hour of homework, children still have 3,660 minutes of spare time a week. But although time is available for children to un- dergo plenty of physical activity, "children still choose, or have no choice, to entertain them- selves with sedentary activities rather than undergo in physical activity during this time". The study found that the most common activities performed outside of school during the children's spare time were catch and tag (7.96%), jogging and running (7.68%) and football (6.23%). The least common ac- tivities were rowing (2.75%), badminton (3.03%) and triath- lon (3.27%) When physical activity at school is also taken into con- sideration, on average children reported participating in physi- cal activities three to four times during the whole week, which is less than once daily. But time for physical activities during PE lessons and school breaks was limited, especially when compared to spare time after school hours. PE lessons are usually carried out twice a week, with each lesson lasting around 40 minutes. Moreover, children have two breaks each day, during which they spend an average of 20 minutes in free play in the school grounds. One of the recommendations made by the authors of the study is to have more parks and play areas in each village and that these should be repeatedly tended to and upgraded, "in or- der to attract families and pro- mote physical exercise during play". The study also reveals that most physical activity takes place during PE lessons and school breaks. "These particular time peri- ods should be used to their best potential. Malta should make use of schools by implement- ing school-based interventions as a public health strategy to increase national quantities of physical activity levels and com- bat childhood obesity." The authors also recommend- ed that schools should offer the opportunity for children to join sport clubs during breaks and that schools should consider offering after-school opportu- nities which involve physical activities. The study also recom- mends the promotion of walk- ing and cycling to school. The study was authored by Amanda Fenech from Depart- ment of Paediatrics at Mater Dei Hospital, Nachiappan Chocka- lingam from the Centre for Bi- omechanics and Rehabilitation Technologies at Staffordshire University and Cynthia For- mosa and Alfred Gatt from the University of Malta's Faculty of Health Sciences. 6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JULY 2020 NEWS Urbanisation and exam pressures contributing to kids' sedentary lifestyles During their free time, children are engaging in physical activities just twice a week on average "Malta should make use of schools by implementing school-based interventions as a public health strategy to increase national quantities of physical activity levels and combat childhood obesity"