Oct 19, 2017
The Toronto Star – Annie Arnone
For Danny Cabrera, four-years-old is the perfect age to begin regular physical activity. His daughter Yazmine attends his Muay Thai classes in Toronto, where she practices her moves while staying active — an important aspect of a child’s life, according to Cabrera. New data shows most Canadian children and youth are still not getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity. Two studies from Statistics Canada reveal they are also spending more time in front of digital screens than experts recommend. (more)
Oct 18, 2017
Medical X-Press – Sarah Fl Kirk
New data on almost 13 million people, from 200 countries around the world, points to a tenfold increase in rates of obesity among children and adolescents over the last four decades. This is the largest study of its kind and it paints a startling and depressing picture of a world that is getting fatter. The research also reveals that the rise in child and adolescent obesity in high income countries is beginning to slow down. And that in low and middle income countries —especially in Asia —it is accelerating. (more)
Oct 18, 2017
Medical X-Press – Staff Writer
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has released a definition of physical literacy that will underpin a national standard designed to improve the physical activity levels, holistic development and health of all Australians. Dr Lisa Barnett, from Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) co-led the research behind the definition and national standard with Dr Richard Keegan, Assistant Professor in Sport and Exercise Psychology at University of Canberra and Dr Dean Dudley, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education at Macquarie University. (more)
Oct 17, 2017
The Globe and Mail – Leslie Beck
This week, a comprehensive study published in the Lancet revealed that the number of obese children, aged five to 19, worldwide has skyrocketed tenfold over the past 40 years. The study, led by the Imperial College of London in collaboration with the World Health Organization, involved height and weight data on nearly 130 million people. While childhood obesity rates are on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, the rise appears to have levelled off, at least temporarily, in high-income countries such as Canada. (more)
Oct 17, 2017
The Telegraph – Laura Donnelly
Telling children to “sit still” sets them up for a lifetime of obesity, a report by MPs and peers has warned. Parents and teachers should “treasure the young child’s natural inclination to be physically active” instead of telling them to stop fidgeting or to be seated for long periods, the parliamentary group said. Fitness experts said today’s children were being fed a diet of “sofa and screen time” while being starved of outdoor activities. (more)
