Outcomes from 17 nations confirmed that girls and boys aged seven to 9 spent extra time screens and fewer time taking part in exterior, mirroring a rise in obese kids on this similar age vary.
Greater than 50,000 kids have been surveyed from 2021-23, following the beginning of the worldwide shutdowns in March 2020.
A nuanced image
“The image that this report paints is nuanced – in some nations there have been constructive modifications, equivalent to extra households consuming collectively, however there have been additionally some regarding findings, together with a rise in unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary time,” said Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, WHO/Europe’s Regional Adviser for Vitamin, Bodily Exercise and Weight problems.
The report revealed that 36 per cent of kids elevated their time spent watching TV, taking part in on-line video games, or utilizing social media throughout the weekdays, and 34 per cent elevated their leisure display screen time on weekends.
Different key highlights embrace 28 per cent of kids skilled a lower in time spent in out of doors actions throughout weekdays, 42 per cent reported a decline in happiness and well-being, and one in 5 reported feeling unhappy extra incessantly.
On a extra constructive word, households reported a rise in consuming home-cooked meals, consuming collectively, and cooking meals along with kids.
Create supportive environments
Dr. Wickramasinghe hoped the report will push nations within the area to take pressing motion to enhance diet and bodily exercise by creating environments that assist wholesome behaviours.
“We can not afford to disregard these traits – in our Area, one in three kids resides with obese and weight problems, and already fruit and vegetable consumption is low,” he stated.
Dr. Ana Rito, Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Vitamin and Childhood Weight problems, and co-author of the report, underscored its significance.
“Equipping the Area and Member States with concrete proof of problematic outcomes of worldwide pandemic-based behavioural modifications will allow us to method future well being crises with larger technique and sympathy,” she stated.
A brighter future
The pandemic highlighted the urgency of tackling childhood weight problems, WHO stated, and nations must construct again higher by prioritizing wholesome consuming and bodily exercise for all kids.
WHO beneficial measures equivalent to advertising and marketing restrictions and taxes on unhealthy merchandise, clear diet labels on meals, and school-based programmes to enhance diets and promote bodily exercise.
The company stated the brand new information “can be utilized to tell and enhance present insurance policies throughout the Area and form much-needed plans for future emergencies and pandemics that will result in interruption of instructional processes or faculty closures.”
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