Sedentary lifestyles harming the young
Ridma DISSANAYAKE
The Health Ministry warned that around 90 percent of schoolchildren
are vulnerable to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) due to the lack of
physical exercises and unhealthy food patterns.
Only11 percent of schoolchildren had regular physical exercises, a
Health Ministry spokesman said. He said 89 percent of students do not
receive any physical exercise regularly and the threat to schoolchildren
from NCDs was very high.
The spokesman said schoolchildren should have at least one hour of
physical exertion daily.
“Two or three years ago, there was a separate period for physical
exercises in schools. This has now been done away giving priority to
cover the syllabus,” he said.
The spokesman said earlier, the school curricular included a period
of physical training.
“A majority of schools do not have a separate period for physical
training anymore. Students have to attend tuition classes after school
and on weekends as well. Hence, they have no time for exercises and risk
diabetes, heart attacks and strokes etc, the NCDs which mostly affect
elders,” he said.
Not having regular physical exercises, increasing the consumption of
food made out of sugar, flour, salt and oil are a sure recipe for NCD,
the spokesman said.
The current situation will lead to a crisis in the future as 10 to 15
percent of schoolchildren are vulnerable to diabetes while 37 percent of
schoolgirls and 17 percent of boys are obese, he said. The spokesman
said in such a situation, the children who will be born in the future
would be vulnerable to NCDs before they come to the world.
|