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Children in Baden-Württemberg: Sporty relaxation despite the screen trap!
The KIT in Karlsruhe presents current results on the fitness of children in BW, which highlight positive trends and challenges.
Children in Baden-Württemberg: Sporty relaxation despite the screen trap!
The physical performance of children in Baden-Württemberg shows positive developments, especially after the restrictions of the corona pandemic between 2020 and 2022. According to the current Fitness barometer, which is collected annually by the Children's Gymnastics Foundation Baden-Württemberg and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the children's motor performance recovers. Over 7,500 children between the ages of three and ten were examined at 305 test locations and a variety of motor skills were recorded.
The research team at KIT's Institute for Sport and Sports Science (IfSS) found that the results of the standardized motor skills test show an increase in coordination and strength that are slightly above pre-pandemic values. Nevertheless, the problem of lack of exercise and media consumption remains. The children suffered from an increase in media consumption over the years, which negatively affected their stamina. These effects are promoted by changing movement patterns and the loss of outdoor activities.
Worrying weight gain
Despite the positive developments in motor skills, the weight problem remains alarming. More than one in six children tested between the ages of eight and ten are classified as overweight, with 6.5 percent of them considered obese. A noticeable jump in weight often occurs after the end of kindergarten. Health experts see an urgent need for action here and recommend paying more attention, in particular, to promoting physical activity in primary school children.
Sports activity among children and young people
The results of the KiGGS wave 2 show that 73% of children and young people in Germany are active in sports, with 58% in club structures. Nevertheless, a decline in the number of members in sports clubs can be seen according to the results of the DOSB inventory survey from 2019. Regular physical activity plays a crucial role in motor and physical development and contributes to the prevention of obesity in children and adolescents.
The decline in sporting activity among preschool children and adolescents is particularly worrying and should be addressed by targeted physical activity promotion. The chances of continued sporting activities also increase if the parents are active and the living environment offers opportunities for exercise.
It is emphasized that only about a quarter of 3- to 17-year-old children meet the WHO recommendations for daily physical activity of at least 60 minutes. These figures suggest that physical activity offerings in daycare centers, schools and residential areas are essential to enable children to develop healthily.