Global warming will mean unfit healthy kids. This is the conclusion of a review published in August 2022, in the journal Temperature of more than 150 studies that looked at how children maintain physical activity, exercise and cope with heat, as well as how this might change as global temperatures rise.
Global Warming
Among the research analysed, was a study of 457 boys ages 5 to 12 in Thailand. It found that overweight youngsters were more than twice as likely to have difficulty regulating their body temperature as children of normal weight, when exercising outdoors.
Another study found more children visited the emergency department at U.S. children's hospitals on hotter days. Younger children were particularly likely to need emergency care.
Decline in chid physical activity globally
The past 30 years have seen rapid declines in child physical activity globally, Children’s aerobic fitness is 30% lower than that of their parents at the same age, according to the research, with most children not meeting the World Health Organisation's guideline of performing an average of at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
Even worse, this physical inactivity accelerated, especially in Europe, during the pandemic, the study found. It could also become harder for unfit children to meet minimum activity levels. How children maintain their body internal temperature is different to an adult. They sweat less than adults in heat and lose heat by increasing blood flow to their skin, which can require the heart to work harder.
Most research on how the body adapts to higher temperatures is on adults, with little conducted on children that's newer than 15 to 30 years old.
As the world warms, the study warns children are the least fit they have ever been, so it is increasingly important that children are encouraged to do daily physical activity to build up and maintain, their fitness, and this doesn’t feel like 'work' or 'a chore' to them.
Physical Education
PE classes are the best way to increase fitness levels and equip children to continue exercising throughout their lives, according to the study, but families can get active too, such as going on a family bike ride or a long walk or walking the dog.
Conclusion:
With ever increasing temperatures due to global warming, obesity and lack of fitness, put children at greater risk of suffering heat-related health problems, such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and obesity from a lack of exercise that can reduce their fitness.
In the longer-term global warming can mean unfit healthy kids. It is important to exercise.
Source: https://www.usnews.com
So now we can add unhealthy children to the list of reasons why we must tackle climate change.
It's crazy to think global warming can have such a significant impact on our children's' health in this way and that children are so vulnerable to climate change, compounded by the increase in childhood obesity.
Global warming is quite scary, primarily because we're not doing anything to pull back and we're ignoring the science that can keep us and the world safe.
Also, now that we know global warming can also have an impact on children, we need to think about that also.
We cannot afford to avoid its warning signs.
Global warming used to be hear-say and regarded as a conspiracy of sorts. But in recent years, ready for it or otherwise, it has become a fact that affects lots of life.
Islands that go under, displaced lives, more and more failed crops, price increases. Billions and trillions of dollars have been pledged to try to undo what we've done the past 70 years or so, of relentless abuse on the environment in the name of materialism and rights.
I believe it has an impact of how our next generation will live lives too. But adding to this, may i suggest that technology has also a huge impact on such as trend?
Look at kids spending hours in front of TV, game PCs, handphones, our so-called convenience and advancements have also led to this couch-culture. My two-cents.
Thanks Jonathan. No one can argue with facts. You present those well. I just hope we pull back enough to understand and make the necessary changes so that future generations can live.
This is my concern too. We're not planning the future of the planet, we're living today and making excuses for our lifestyles. That's not mending the planet for future generations.
It's why I write about these issues on my blog.