Study reveals Louisiana children not getting enough physical activity

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The digital age is making it harder for kids to get enough physical activity each day, according to a national survey.

The 2024 Physical Activity Report Card for U.S. Children and Youth gave it a grade of D-, the same grade it received in 2022.

“Some of what we’re seeing with our young kids is that we’re not really working on their fundamental motor skills, so there are these specific blocks of how you’re supposed to run, how you’re supposed to jump, and we’re not doing that kids focus so much on it,” said Pennington biomedical researcher Dr. Katie Spring.

Dr. Spring participated in the survey which revealed that more than three-quarters of children aged 6 to 17 do not get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day. In Louisiana, those numbers are even higher.

“We’re seeing that we have some parts where we need to catch up as a state, but as a whole and as a nation, our kids are not getting enough activity,” said Dr. Spring.

Dr Spring said the digital age was largely to blame for the country’s low numbers.

“Kids are spending a lot more time in front of screens than they did a couple of years ago. Part of that has to do with the COVID-19 shift from in-person to having classes online, but also part of it is just “It has to deal as a nation and even as a state, we rely a lot on screens instead of going out and having fun as a family,” said Dr. Spring.

Pennington Biomedical has collected years of this data and is using it to educate parents and families through a new program.

“The Greaux Healthy Initiative is really trying to work from baby through life to try to address these issues, because we recognize that it’s a problem and we also recognize that we have the research that shows that these things work. So we provide these resources because as a state, we can improve,” said Dr. Spring.

The initiative shows that getting enough physical activity a day is as simple as spending less time in a chair.

“We have this thought in our mind of being physically active, I have to go to a gym and I have to do X, Y and Z, or I have to involve my child in this sport and this sport and this sport. and that definitely benefits, getting your child involved in sports, but I think we all have to take a step back and remember that this isn’t physical activity, but it’s much simpler than that. We just d ‘get up and move,’ said Dr. Spring.

However, it is never too late to start.

“It’s never too late to get up and get moving as a family, on your own, and trying to get everyone moving more,” said Dr. Spring.

For more information on the Greaux Healthy initiative, click here.

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