Study: European children are getting weaker and less mobile

A large international study has revealed that children and adolescents across Europe are becoming weaker, less flexible and have poorer body composition compared to previous generations. The findings, published in the scientific journal Sports Medicine, Open, indicate that physical fitness levels among children aged six to 16 years in 20 European countries have reached their lowest levels in nearly 60 years. Researchers warn that these declining trends could have serious long-term health consequences. The study analyzed data from over 417,000 children and adolescents spanning more than five decades, from 1965 to 2023. Conducted by scientists at the University of Zaragoza, the research highlights a consistent decline in upper-body strength, lower-body strength, flexibility, and body composition. These factors have been steadily worsening over time, with some indicators showing particularly sharp declines in recent decades. Upper-body strength began to decrease as early as the 1970s, followed by a brief period of stabilization between the 1980s and 2000s before the downward trend resumed. Lower-body strength showed similar patterns, increasing until the 1980s and then experiencing a continuous decline. Flexibility, however, has shown a more alarming pattern, decreasing consistently over several decades, with a marked acceleration after the year 2000. This suggests that modern lifestyles may be contributing significantly to reduced physical capabilities among young people. In addition to decreased strength and flexibility, researchers noted an increase in body fat among children and adolescents. They caution that relying solely on the Body Mass Index (BMI) to assess body composition can lead to underestimation of the issue, as BMI does not fully capture the distribution of muscle mass and fat. This means that even individuals with normal BMI readings may still face health risks related to poor body composition. While there was some positive news regarding cardiorespiratory endurance, defined as the ability of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels to supply oxygen to muscles during physical activity, the overall picture remained concerning. Data from 2015 to 2023 showed a slight stabilization in this area, but levels were still notably lower than they had been several decades earlier. The researchers emphasized that Europe is missing a critical opportunity to protect the health of its youth and called for greater public investment in promoting regular physical activity among children. Physical fitness in childhood is considered one of the strongest predictors of future health outcomes. Children who maintain good cardiovascular endurance and healthy body composition are at a lower risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers later in life. Greater muscular strength is also associated with better body composition and reduced risk of chronic illness. Despite these warnings, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 75% of European adolescents do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. WHO guidelines suggest that children and adolescents should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity daily, along with three sessions per week of activities that build muscle and bone strength. Failure to adhere to these recommendations contributes to a range of health issues, including increased risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Lack of physical activity is also linked to higher rates of premature death, overall mortality, and deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases. As such, experts stress that encouraging children to move regularly represents one of the most important investments in future public health.