Title
Timing of the decline in physical activity in childhood/adolescence
Research Area
Tackling Inactivity; Education
Author
Farooq, M A et al; British Journal of Sports Medicine
Summary of Findings
This longitudinal study, carried out in the North East of England, sought to explore the widely held view that activity levels start to decline at adolsecence and looked to identify the timing of any such changes. Participants were selected for this study when they were aged 7. They were asked to wear an accelerometer for 7 days to measured their activity levels. They were contacted again at age 9, 12 and 15 and the same recording of activity levels completed. On each occasion their height, weight and BMI were also recorded.
The study found that the total volume of physical activity decreased over the length of the study. Despite this decrease, levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity were less consistent with 19% of boys seeming to maintain a high level across the study. Overall however, amongst the remaining children this also declined.
Implications
Developing a positive relationship with physical activity at a young age is important for lots of reasons. Good levels of physical literacy lead to happier and healthier children, with higher levels of social trust. Recent research from Sport England indicates levels of enjoyment in sport and activity actually start to decrease from the age of 5, therefore the reasons behind the decline identified in this research may be rooted in the experiences some people have at an even younger age.
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