WHO study rate adolescent boys more active than girls

A World Health Organization (WHO) new study has rated adolescents boys more active than girls.

According to the study, the prevalence of insufficient physical activity slightly decreased in boys between 2001 and 2016 but there was no change over time in girls, globally.

It indicates that the countries showing the greatest decreases in boys being insufficiently active were Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, Benin, Ireland and USA.

The report, however, noted, among girls, changes were small, ranging from a two percentage-point decrease in Singapore to a one percentage-point increase in Afghanistan.

It also said urgent action is needed to increase physical activity levels in girls and boys aged 11 to 17 years.

The study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal and produced by researchers from the WHO, finds that more than 80 per cent  of school-going adolescents globally did not meet current recommendations of at least one hour of physical activity per day – including 85 per cent  of girls and 78 per cent  of boys.

The study which is based on data reported by 1.6 million 11 to 17-year-old students finds that across all 146 countries studied between 2001-2016 girls were less active than boys in all but four (Tonga, Samoa, Afghanistan and Zambia).

It noted “The difference in the proportion of boys and girls meeting the recommendations was greater than 10 percentage points in almost one in three countries in 2016. The biggest gaps seen in the United States of America and Ireland (more than 15 percentage points).

Also read on the health implications of inactivity among adolescents

Young people’s health compromised by insufficient physical activity – WHO report