The National Health Security Agency alerts the population to the dangers of too little physical activity for young people. This increases their risk of suffering from diabetes, being overweight or cardiovascular disease.
- ANSES warns of the situation of adolescents aged 11 to 17 who are too sedentary
- This sedentary lifestyle is closely linked to the time spent in front of screens
- The risks for these young people are overweight, diabetes and cardiovascular disease
French teenagers need to move more: ANSES warns of the risks associated with the lack of physical activity among young people. Thanks to data from a study on the habits of young people, carried out in 2017, she finds that on average they spend too much time on screens and do too little physical activity. According to this organization, these behaviors are at risk for a large proportion of young people.
Danger thresholds
“Among adolescents between 11 and 17 years old, two thirds of them (66%) are particularly exposed to health risks, simply because they have more than two hours of screen time per day and because they are below one hour of physical activity per day, these are danger thresholds”explains Irène Margaritis, Head of the Nutrition Risk Assessment Unit at ANSES, in an interview withAFPtaken back by BFM TV. Among these young people, 17% are even more at risk because they do less than 20 minutes of physical activity per day and are sedentary for more than 4.5 hours. Girls seem to be more concerned than boys: their level of physical activity is lower. The researchers also note that adolescents from low-income or low-education families are more affected by excessive sedentary lifestyles.
The necessary change in our modes of travel
Young people who are too sedentary are more likely to suffer from diabetes, to be overweight or obese, and even to develop cardiovascular disorders. These complications will usually appear in adulthood. For the ANSES specialists, it is necessary to rethink the way we move around towns in order to promote mobility on foot or by bicycle. “Physical activity and the reduction of a sedentary lifestyle is not a plus, it is a necessity”alarm Irene Margaritis.
What is the impact of confinement?
These data were collected before the first confinement, but during this period sedentary behavior once again increased among young people. A study produced by Harris Interactive for the Assurance Prévention association shows that 6 to 18 year olds spent an average of 30 hours a week in front of screens, i.e. 4 hours a day. Before the first confinement, the average was 20 hours per week. On the other hand, the physical activity of young people followed the opposite logic: it decreased during confinement compared to before. On average, children spent 6.1 hours a week on it before confinement, and 5.5 hours during this period. As a reminder, theWorld Health Organization recommends that young people aged 5 to 17 get at least one hour of physical activity each day.
.
