Achi news desk-
An increase in weather alerts across the country and the effects of a changing climate are becoming another barrier to children and youth being active in Canada, according to a new report.
The 2024 report card on physical activity for children and youth by ParticipACTION gives children a “D+” grade for overall physical activity, up from a “D” grade in 2022.
The report shows that only 39 percent of children and youth, ages 5 to 17, get the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.
ParticipACTION says the barriers to getting active have changed for children and youth, including increased screen time, decreased opportunities for active transportation, costs and financial obligations, and limited access to green spaces. Now, the report says the effects of a changing climate are another barrier to getting children and youth active.
“While the overall physical activity score has improved, D+ is still an undesirable score,” the report said.
“As Canada continues to slowly recover from the remaining effects of the pandemic on physical activity (e.g., lockdowns, physical distancing and cessation of organized sports), the effects of climate change continue to build on pandemic-related challenges for children.”
The report notes “unfavorable weather and climate conditions”, such as heat waves, heavy rain and smoke-filled air, lead to the cancellation of breaks and outdoor sports and leisure activities and force the children to stay indoors.
“Where general physical fitness has a direct effect on heat tolerance, it is possible that children who are less fit than ever may also affect their ability to acclimate and tolerate the higher temperatures of a changing climate,” says ParticipACTION.
“Furthermore, given that children cannot regulate their temperature in extremely hot and cold climates as well as adults can because of their larger body surface area relative to weight, this puts them at greater health risk in extreme temperatures even before fitness levels are taken into account.”
Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec experienced several days of smoke and haze due to forest fires burning in Quebec last summer. Environment Canada issued special air quality statements due to high levels of air pollution, and people were encouraged to limit outdoor activities.
The report calls for government investment to increase access to active and public transportation to school and other daily commitments to improve physical activity levels. Other recommendations include school boards creating policies to maintain active play when outdoor recess is not possible to reduce sitting and screen time, and communities to ensure High quality air filtration systems for indoor leisure facilities.
ParticipACTION also recommends that organized sports programs for children and youth have heat warning systems and develop clear and easy-to-use guidelines and policies for severe weather events.
Here’s a look at the 2024 report card on physical activity for children and youth from ParticipACTION:
Active game: D-. The report says that 22% of children and youth accumulated more than two hours a day of unstructured indoor and outdoor play.
Organized sports: B. The report shows that 66 percent of children and youth between the ages of 5 and 17 participated in organized sports in the past year.
Physical Education: third. Fifty-three percent of the students met the physical education standards.
Sedentary behaviors: d. Twenty-seven percent of children and youth met the recommended recreational screen time limit of no more than two hours a day.
sleep: B. Sixty-five percent of children and youth met the age-specific sleep recommendations.
Traffic behavior 24 hours a day: and. The study shows that only four percent of children and youth met the combined guidelines of 24 hours a day.
