The increase in sedentary lifestyle in the current context
In a report published this Monday, November 23, the National Health Security Agency (Anses) alerts the public authorities to the increase in the sedentary lifestyle of adolescents in the current context. As a reminder and according to ANSES, sedentary lifestyle corresponds for the youngest to ” time spent sitting or lying down in front of a leisure screen (television, computer, video game, etc.), outside of school time “.
To assess the health effects of exposure of young French people to a sedentary lifestyle and to low levels of physical activity, ANSES drew on data from INCA3, the third study based on a study on consumption and eating habits. of the French population. According to experts, two thirds of 11-17 year olds present a worrying health risk linked to a sedentary lifestyle.
In its report, ANSES also recalls the health thresholds set for 6-17 year olds. When the sedentary lifestyle is “more than 2 hours per day, this” screen time ”may constitute a health risk “. As for physical inactivity, ANSES indicates that “ when it is less than 60 minutes per day, including sports practiced during school time, young people are considered insufficiently active “.
Two thirds of 11-17 year olds exceed health thresholds
According to the expertise carried out by the Agency, 66% present a worrying health risk, characterized by the simultaneous exceeding of the two health thresholds (more than 2 hours of screen time and less than 60 minutes of physical activity per day) among young people from 11 to 17 years old.
Another observation: 49% present a very high health risk with more than 4.5 hours of daily screen time and / or less than 20 minutes of physical activity per day. The analyzes also showed that “ the level of inactivity is even higher among the oldest adolescents (15-17 years) and among young people from less privileged backgrounds “.
The risks of a high sedentary lifestyle and exceeding health thresholds
If the results of the expert appraisal prompted ANSES to call on the public authorities, it is because, according to specialists, “ it is extremely rare for a risk assessment to show that two-thirds of the population studied have exceeded health thresholds, thus indicating exposure to a high level of risk to health “. However, ANSES explains that “ high levels of inactivity […] are most often associated with the risks of overweight and obesity in children, but also with eating disorders as well as an altered quality of sleep and life “.
The risks of sedentary lifestyle among the youngest being accentuated with the effects of confinements relating to the Covid-19 epidemic, ANSES calls on the public authorities to “take measures to combat sedentary lifestyle among young people, and in particular towards the oldest adolescents (15-17 years) and those with the lowest social level ”, within the framework of the National Health Nutrition Plan (PNNS).
