Social and health importance of physical activity in children and youth (based on who and eu documents)

Abstract

Scientific research provides powerful evidence that physical activity is one of irreplaceable health factors that significantly diminish the risks of a number of chronic diseases. The more so, in children and youth, physical inactivity contributes to the development of undesirable health phenomena in the body indicating early development of chronic diseases. Their prevalence in adults poses a major public health and economic problem in both developed and developing countries. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) have been paying extraordinary attention to physical inactivity in the last years and have published guidelines and recommendations on the struggle against sedentary way of life. The governments and their respective sectors in member countries should transfer them into the action plans and necessary measures implemented in everyday life of the population. Ministries of health, education and sports have the leading role in these activities. The efforts in treating children and youth properly for necessary physical activity and developing conditions in the education process as well as at leisure time as well has become one of the priority tasks of the state policy and of the society at large. The goal is to reach the WHO and EU recommendations of 60 minutes daily activity of moderate or vigorous intensity on most days of the week.