A recent study by Belgium’s Sciensano national health institute has revealed a concerning decline in physical activity among children aged three to nine years old.
Just 31% of this age group meets the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended daily exercise guidelines, a marked decrease from a decade ago.
The findings, based on data collected during the 2022-2023 period, indicate that nearly seven in ten children in Belgium are not engaging in sufficient physical activity. This trend has raised alarms among health experts.
“Our most recent survey shows that few children meet these physical activity guidelines. This number has generally decreased compared to our previous survey in 2014-2015,” said Sciensano researcher Vicka Versele.
Concerning Trends Across Demographics
Breaking the data down further, notable disparities emerge between genders and regions. Boys appear more active than girls, with 42.5% meeting the recommended activity levels compared to less than 20% of girls. Additionally, children in Flanders are more physically active (36%) than those in Wallonia (25%).
Adolescents are also falling short, with an increase in excessive screen time since the last survey. Many surpass the guideline of limiting screen exposure to two hours per day.
Families with a lower level of education are particularly affected, with children from these households engaging in more screen time and less moderate to high-intensity exercise compared to those with parents who hold higher education degrees.
“This is probably because parents with a high level of education have more resources to enroll their child in a sports club, and are also more aware of the benefits of physical activity,” Versele explained.
Changing Routines, Persistent Challenges
While nearly half (46%) of children aged three to nine use active modes of transport like walking, cycling, or scootering to school, the overall time spent on physical activity remains inadequate.
The study also found that these children spend an hour less sitting than their counterparts a decade ago, but they are still not reaching optimal activity levels.
The WHO recommends that children aged three to four years engage in at least 180 minutes of physical activity daily, with 60 minutes at a moderate or high intensity.
For those aged five to 17, at least one hour of moderate to high-intensity exercise daily is advised, including three days of high-intensity activity per week.
Urgent Need for Action
The implications of insufficient exercise among children are profound, contributing to a heightened risk of obesity, mental health issues, and chronic diseases later in life.
Health professionals and policymakers are calling for initiatives to reverse this trend, including promoting sports participation and reducing screen time.
As Belgium grapples with the challenge of promoting healthier lifestyles among its younger population, researchers emphasize the need for targeted interventions.
Raising awareness among parents and improving access to physical activities could play a pivotal role in encouraging children to lead more active lives.
The decline in physical activity among Belgian children serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fostering healthy habits early in life. Without concerted efforts, the long-term health and well-being of a generation could be at stake.
 recommended daily exercise guidelines, a marked decrease from a decade ago){kind=link}