Teen girls at risk over non-activity

ALMOST three-in-four teenage girls are not getting enough physical exercise and could be at risk of illness in later life as a result, a survey has found.

The research found that three-in-five were not regularly active and do not meet current recommendations for physical activity.

But while this applied to just under half of the males surveyed, it accounted for 71% of girls who took part.

“These statistics should not alarm us, given that it is already known that Ireland has one of the highest rates of teenage obesity in the EU,“ said report author Dr Catherine Woods.

“Nevertheless, it is of concern given that we know that physical activity is so beneficial to mental and physical well-being. We were particularly alarmed that the level of inactivity is so pronounced among young females,” she said.

Dr Woods was one of the team from Dublin City University’s school of health and human performance, which prepared the Take PART Study report for the Health Service Executive (HSE).

It was carried out for DCU among 845 boys and girls between 15 and 17 in the midlands and 1,111 teenagers in the HSE north-east area region.

The recommended daily activity is at least an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity, which could include brisk walks and some form of more aerobic exercise.

It is believed that low activity levels at this age leads to greater likelihood of illnesses in later life such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, gallstones, insulin resistance and other avoidable medical conditions.

The research found that less than one-fifth of students in the midlands area walk or cycle to school, even though one-in-five brought to school by car live less than a mile away.

“We know that children who walk or cycle to school are more likely to be otherwise physically active after school,” according to Dr Woods.