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| SHORT COMMUNICATION |
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| Year : 2020 | Volume
: 11
| Issue : 1 | Page : 40-41 |
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Improving physical activity among adolescents through multisectoral actions: World Health Organization
Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava1, Prateek Saurabh Shrivastava2
1 Member of the Medical Education Unit and Institute Research Council, Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth – Deemed to be University, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpet District, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth – Deemed to be University, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpet District, Tamil Nadu, India
| Date of Submission | 03-Jun-2020 |
| Date of Acceptance | 18-Jul-2020 |
| Date of Web Publication | 23-Dec-2020 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava
Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV) – Deemed to be University, Tiruporur - Guduvancherry Main Road, Ammapettai, Nellikuppam, Chengalpaet District - 603108, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/mjmsr.mjmsr_25_20
Insufficient physical activity has been regarded as one among the potential risk factors for the development of non-communicable diseases and the associated complications, including mortality. The World Health Organization has recommended for at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day for adolescents. In the global mission to improve the levels of physical activity and to reduce the percentage of insufficient physical activity by 10% by 2025, there is an immense need to formulate effective strategies and programs for the benefit of adolescents. At the same time, it is extremely important to implement multi-sectoral actions, which will then offer varied chances for adolescents and youths to be physically active. In conclusion, physical activity is an important aspect to ensure optimal health and wellbeing in all age-groups. It is the need of the hour that nations and communities should implement measures to enhance the number of opportunities available for adolescents to be physically active.
Keywords: Physical activity, Adolescents, World Health Organization
How to cite this article:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS. Improving physical activity among adolescents through multisectoral actions: World Health Organization. Muller J Med Sci Res 2020;11:40-1 |
How to cite this URL:
Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS. Improving physical activity among adolescents through multisectoral actions: World Health Organization. Muller J Med Sci Res [serial online] 2020 [cited 2022 May 20];11:40-1. Available from: https://www.mjmsr.net/text.asp?2020/11/1/40/304589 |
| Introduction | |  |
Insufficient physical activity has been regarded as one among the potential risk factors for the development of noncommunicable diseases and the associated complications, including mortality.[1],[2] In fact, the global estimates depict that 25% of the adults are not meeting the set recommendations of being physically active.[1] In case of adolescents, the figures are quite alarming, with more than fourfifths of them being insufficiently physically active.[1] Further, it was observed that in 97% of the nations, adolescent girls were less active than boys, with Bangladesh and India reporting the worst estimates.[1],[3] These facts clearly emphasize the need for an urgent and immediate response to enhance physical activity among the population of all age groups.[1],[2]
Standard recommendations and impact
The World Health Organization has recommended for at least 60 min of physical activity per day for adolescents, with a subclause that anything additional to the set limits will result in even more health benefits.[1] Optimal physical activity has been linked with better cardiorespiratory health, muscle fitness, maintenance of optimal weight, brain development, and socialization.[3] Amidst the existing trends, it is quite obvious that poor levels of physical activity will jeopardize their current as well as health parameters in future as most of the benefits extend into an adult age group.[2],[3] It is high time to acknowledge that adolescents have the right to play and thus should be given an adequate number of options to accomplish their physical and mental well being.[3],[4]
Need of the hour
In the global mission to improve the levels of physical activity and to reduce the percentage of insufficient physical activity by 10% by 2025, there is an immense need to formulate effective strategies and programs for the benefit of adolescents.[3] All the stakeholders at each level, including policymakers, should work together with an intention to facilitate physical activity among adolescents. It is very important to ensure that specific strategies are planned to enable better physical activity among girls and eliminate the issue of gender inequality in this domain.[1],[2],[3]
Involvement of multiple stakeholders
At the same time, it is extremely important to implement multisectoral actions (viz., education, urban planning), which will then offer varied chances for adolescents and youths to be physically active.[3],[4] We should aim to improve physical activity through facilitation of activities of daily living, promotion of active modes of transportation, workplace policies to improve physical activity, reducing screen time, delivery of physical education to schoolchildren, and provision of facilities for sports and recreational activities.[2],[3],[4],[5]
| Conclusion | | |
In conclusion, physical activity is an important aspect to ensure optimal health and wellbeing in all age groups. It is the need of the hour that nations and communities should implement measures to enhance the number of opportunities available for adolescents to be physically active.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | | |
| 1. | |
| 2. | Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS, Ramasamy J. Improving adolescent health by meeting global standards set by the World Health Organization. Ann Trop Med Public Health 2017;10:284-5.  [Full text] |
| 3. | |
| 4. | Perez LG, Oh A, Dwyer LA, Perna FM, Berrigan D. School contextual correlates of physical activity among a national adolescent sample. Prev Med Rep 2019;14:100835. |
| 5. | Shrivastava SR, Shrivastava PS. Substituting screen time and sedentary behavior with physical activity among young children. Int J Health Allied Sci 2019;8:216-7. [Full text] |
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