School children in India lack in physical health and fitness, shows national study

The study conducted by EduSports covered about 100,000 children in the seven to 17 years age group, in 287 schools across 85 cities from 23 states

The present generation of schoolchildren in India, regardless of age group or gender or both, seem heading towards an unhealthy future.

Their health and fitness levels are dipping, according to a study by EduSports, a Bengaluru-based organisation which works to implement programmes on physical education and sport in schools.

The study covered more than 100,000 children, seven to 17 years, in 287 schools across 85 cities in 23 states. All age groups showed alarming fitness levels. The study involved the assessment of key health and physical fitness parameters such as anaerobic exercise capacity, flexibility, lower and upper body strength and body mass index (BMI).
 

A little over 40 per cent lacked a healthy BMI and endurance, the study said. Experts believed a key reason for this was the lack of physical activity and outdoor games.

It was found 65 per cent of girls had healthy BMI scores, compared to 59 per cent for boys. But girls scored lower than boys in other fitness parameters.

Children in all five regions of the country were deemed more or less equally unfit, with unhealthy BMI scores of 37 per cent (central), 54 per cent (east), 37 per cent (north), 38 per cent (south) and 36 per cent (west). The weighted scores for these regions across all fitness parameters do not vary by much, reinforcing the view that children across the country show an alarming lack of fitness.

Saumil Majmudar, chief executive and co-founder of EduSports, points to the need for schools to raise play hours for children. “The lack of health and fitness among such a large number again proves that physical activity/sports in schools should be viewed as an important part of the curriculum, for the overall development of a child. There is a need for greater awareness about the importance of play and there must be more time allotted for the same. In the next year, we hope to see far better results,” he said.

In contrast to children in metro cities, the non-metros scored higher in terms of BMI levels and fitness parameters. Children in non-metros demonstrated better flexibility (75 per cent in non-metros and 70 per cent in metros), had better upper body strength (64 per cent in non-metros and 61 per cent in metros) and a marginal overall BMI score (61 per cent in non-metros and 60 per cent in metros).