KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — According to the World Health Organization, more than 80% of children between the ages of 11 and 17 do not meet the current recommendations of at least one hour of physical activity per day.
There is also a gap with boys and girls, with girls not exercising as much as teen boys.
These were the worldwide results reported in the journal "The Lancet."
Here in the United States, there was a large gap between males and females, with 80% of girls failing to meet the physical activity requirements, whereas 64% of boys were in that category.
There is a greater problem. The numbers are getting worse, indicating that a growing number of teens are not meeting these requirements. The concern is that this will ultimately lead to increased risk of obesity as well as diabetes and heart disease.
