WHO declares increased sitting time as a barrier in growth for children under 5

The World Health Organization has recently released a report on the impact of sedentary lifestyles. The report emphasizes the importance of physical activity for children’s health.

Welcome to your blog post. Use this space to connect with your readers and potential customers in a way that’s current and interesting. Think of it as an ongoing conversation where you can share updates about business, trends, news, and more.

report says that for proper growth it is necessary that children under five spend less time sitting in strollers and more time playing outdoors. The report further suggests that reducing sedentary activities from children’s lives will improve their physical and mental health. More physical exertion, on the other hand, can save them from childhood obesity.

Stats strongly against more “sit-time”

According to the very same report, 5 million people die each year around the world because they do not indulge in the standard level of physical activity. In addition,23% of adults and 80% of adolescents in the world are not active enough. They have a poor lazy lifestyle. Due to these alarming life patterns, WHO is encouraging people to shape their children’s lifestyles with active habits. This will help them in staying physically active even when they are adults.

The new approach encourages an “active lifestyle”

To deal with the rising obesity among children, WHO has given out a new lifestyle guideline which is as follows.

For Infants

According to the new guideline, infants who are less than one year old should not be restrained in prams and strollers for more than one hour at a time. Screen time for such young children is not advisable at all. There should also be some playtime for these children. They should spend at least 180 minutes in multiple physical activities throughout the entire day. A sleep of 14-17 hours is recommended for such children with regular waking and sleeping times.

For Children between the ages of 1-2

Active screen time for children of age 2 is also not advisable. If necessary, the screen time should not be more than an hour for these children in a day. Children at age 1 should not have any active screen time. Physical exertion for 180 minutes is also important for children of this age along with a sleep schedule of 11-14 hours.

For Children between the ages of 3-4

Children in this age bracket are allowed some screen time. It should, however, not be more than one hour at a time. 180 minutes of physical activity is a must for these children where 60 minutes should be of vigorous and intense activity. A sleep schedule of 10-13 hours is recommended for these children.

Starting intense physical activity at a young age has many benefits. It makes children grow up to be more strong and healthy. It also cements healthy habits in children, that stay with them throughout their life. The guideline mentioned in this article is developed by experts and doctors who are the best in their field. If you want your children to grow healthily, you should follow this guideline strictly.

If you think your child is suffering from the very issue, we strongly recommend seeking a piece of advice from a child specialist. Book an appointment with a top child specialist in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc and Find the Best Doctors in Pakistan.

My name is Usman and I am working with oladoc.com— Pakistan’s premier digital health company. Using oladoc, you can find a top child specialist in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, and seek appointment online.