Public Health France warns of this problem in a new report.
- The French do not do enough physical activity according to a new report from Public Health France.
- Women and children are particularly affected by this phenomenon.
- For adults, the WHO recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week.
“Levels of physical activity among the French population are still low, particularly among women and children.” This is the conclusion of a new document published by Public health France.
33% of girls and 51% of boys aged 6 to 17 do enough sport
Only 33% of girls and 51% of boys aged 6 to 17 meet official physical activity recommendations. These percentages vary according to the sex, age and educational level of the adult in the household.
Several elements emerge from the survey concerning children:
– girls are less physically active than boys;
– the youngest children (6-10 years old) are the most active;
– the level of physical activity of children decreases after the age of 10;
– the proportion of physically active children is lower in less educated households.
The proportion of physically active women has decreased
Moreover, “53% of women and 71% of men aged 18-74 reach the official recommendations for physical activity with numerous socio-demographic and territorial disparities”, can also be read in the report.
“Unlike men, the proportion of physically active women decreased between 2006 and 2016. The proportion of physically active women is thus lower than that of men regardless of age or level of education,” indicates the text.
“The proportion of physically active men and women is lower among the least educated”also specifies Public Health France.
8 out of 10 children spend 2 hours or more per day in front of a screen
The last part of the survey concerns sedentary behaviors judged “frequent” by the health agency.
8 out of 10 children spend 2 hours or more per day in front of a screen, knowing that the daily time spent in front of screens is greater among young people from less educated households. “The daily time spent by children in front of screens increased by more than an hour between 2006 and 2016,” completes the summary.
“8 out of 10 adults report more than 3 hours of leisure screen time per day and more than 20% spend more than 7 hours sitting per day,” Finally, public health experts note. “A sedentary lifestyle affects younger adults (18-39 years) and adults residing in high-density urban areas more,” they conclude.
Physical activity: what are the WHO recommendations?
For children and adolescents, the WHO (World Health Organization) recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. “These activities should be primarily aerobic, but also include exercises that strengthen muscles and bones at least three times a week,” specifies the Alzheimer Foundation.
For adults, the WHO recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week, combining aerobic activities and muscle-strengthening exercises. two days a week.
