IN 2007 the first Healthy Active Kids Report Card published by a panel of health scientists gave South African children an overall health grade of C-, with lower marks for unhealthy eating, tobacco use and physical education.
The 2010 Healthy Active Kids Report Card again scores the health of South African kids with an overall C-.
"The 2010 Healthy Active Kids Report Card shows that there has been little or no improvement in the areas of tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity and obesity in our kids over the last three years," says Craig Nossel, head of Vitality Wellness at Discovery.
"These are worrying trends as these lifestyle factors give rise to serious preventable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease and certain cancers, which are responsible for over half the adult deaths worldwide."
In order to get a better understanding of the state of health and health behaviour of South African kids, the 2010 Healthy Active Kids Report panel was expanded to include partners from the Health Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council, several academic institutions, and health-related non governmental organisations, along with the private sector.
The findings of the panel were:
l Decline in physical activity levels with only 42percent of youth took part in sufficient vigorous physical activity to be considered health-enhancing (2007: 45percent).
The 2010 report card shows that there has been a 3percent decline in levels of sufficient vigorous physical activity to be considered health enhancing from 45percent in 2007 to 42percent in 2010.
Less than 70percent of high school pupils have regularly scheduled physical education, and physical education classes in disadvantaged primary schools are even less frequent, with participation showing a downward trend from 2002-2008.
l Increase in overweight and obese children to 20percent and 5percent respectively.
The paradox of obesity coupled with stunting continues to be a major problem in South Africa. There has been a 3percent increase in overweight children (from 17percent to 20percent) and obesity increased by 1percent (from 4percent to 5percent).
l Nearly 30percent of teens consumed fast food two to three times a week.
Healthy foods, for example, in rural settings cost almost twice as much as the unhealthy equivalent.
From a practical perspective, fast food intake is very common in teens and young adults. In a recent survey, nearly 30pecent of those interviewed consumed fast food between two and three times a week. This was highest in young men, and in persons from a lower socio-economic background.
There is no indication that tuck shop intake and food choices have changed since 2007.
Media and advertising also play a role at school level. In a recent survey of over 100 schools, soft drink advertising was twice as prominent as posters related to healthy eating or physical activity.
Nearly 30percent of adolescents say they have ever smoked.
Although the panel expressed their concern regarding these harmful habits, there were some positive findings as well:
There are increasing examples of private-public sector partnerships to address the need of teachers for support in implementing physical and nutrition education.
The policy environment is changing from the school feeding scheme to the curriculum, to the re-inclusion of regular physical education.
SA kids are not healthy or active, study finds
IN 2007 the first Healthy Active Kids Report Card published by a panel of health scientists gave South African children an overall health grade of C-, with lower marks for unhealthy eating, tobacco use and physical education.
The 2010 Healthy Active Kids Report Card again scores the health of South African kids with an overall C-.
"The 2010 Healthy Active Kids Report Card shows that there has been little or no improvement in the areas of tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity and obesity in our kids over the last three years," says Craig Nossel, head of Vitality Wellness at Discovery.
"These are worrying trends as these lifestyle factors give rise to serious preventable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease and certain cancers, which are responsible for over half the adult deaths worldwide."
In order to get a better understanding of the state of health and health behaviour of South African kids, the 2010 Healthy Active Kids Report panel was expanded to include partners from the Health Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council, several academic institutions, and health-related non governmental organisations, along with the private sector.
The findings of the panel were:
l Decline in physical activity levels with only 42percent of youth took part in sufficient vigorous physical activity to be considered health-enhancing (2007: 45percent).
The 2010 report card shows that there has been a 3percent decline in levels of sufficient vigorous physical activity to be considered health enhancing from 45percent in 2007 to 42percent in 2010.
Less than 70percent of high school pupils have regularly scheduled physical education, and physical education classes in disadvantaged primary schools are even less frequent, with participation showing a downward trend from 2002-2008.
l Increase in overweight and obese children to 20percent and 5percent respectively.
The paradox of obesity coupled with stunting continues to be a major problem in South Africa. There has been a 3percent increase in overweight children (from 17percent to 20percent) and obesity increased by 1percent (from 4percent to 5percent).
l Nearly 30percent of teens consumed fast food two to three times a week.
Healthy foods, for example, in rural settings cost almost twice as much as the unhealthy equivalent.
From a practical perspective, fast food intake is very common in teens and young adults. In a recent survey, nearly 30pecent of those interviewed consumed fast food between two and three times a week. This was highest in young men, and in persons from a lower socio-economic background.
There is no indication that tuck shop intake and food choices have changed since 2007.
Media and advertising also play a role at school level. In a recent survey of over 100 schools, soft drink advertising was twice as prominent as posters related to healthy eating or physical activity.
Nearly 30percent of adolescents say they have ever smoked.
Although the panel expressed their concern regarding these harmful habits, there were some positive findings as well:
There are increasing examples of private-public sector partnerships to address the need of teachers for support in implementing physical and nutrition education.
The policy environment is changing from the school feeding scheme to the curriculum, to the re-inclusion of regular physical education.
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