SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE AND ITS IMPACT ON SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENTS’ HEALTH IN CHENNAI

Author: K. SATHYAMURTHI and ANJANA M Controller of Examinations & Ass Professor, Madras School of Social Work, Chennai-8 MSW(MPSW), Dept. of Social Work (Aided), Madras School of Social Work, Chennai-8

Published On: 2021-06-09

Sedentary life style or physical inactivity in children and youth in India is a major public health problem. Children and Youth spend time by watching TV, DVDs or playing on the computer and mobile phone are linked to children being overweight and obese. This is partly because the time children spend on small screen activities takes away from the time, they could spend being physically active. Children who watch TV for more than two hours each day are more likely to have an unhealthy diet, less likely to eat fruit and less likely to participate in physical activity.  89 per cent of children aged between four and five years spend more than two hours watching TV, videos or DVDs every day (WHO). In addition, it’s more likely that kids will snack on foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat when they watch TV and many advertisements about food and drinks are directed towards children. These advertisements are often for fatty, high sugar ‘extra foods’ and use branding that is highly appealing to children. Not only does a sedentary lifestyle have implications for physical fitness, it also has profound implications for physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. The undirected exploration of space in movement and play is an important part of childhood development (Churchman 1980). Children who are unable to safely explore their neighborhood are denied a vital experience – the chance to test themselves socially, mentally and physically in small real-life situations that prepare them for the wider world (Hillman 1999). This descriptive study aims to identify the Overall Physical Activity of the school going adolescents through their active play, relationship and communication patterns between the family members, peers and their eating patterns. The study follows Quantitative method and the primary data were collected through a semi structured interview schedule. The main focus of the study is to suggest the importance of physical activity among children, adolescents and youth.

              KEYWORDS: Sedentary Lifestyle, Adolescent, Health