A new report from the American Heart Association says fitness levels in children are lower today than they were 30 years ago. The researchers looked at data from the past 46 years. The statistics were on more than 25 million children in 28 countries. The research team found that on average, today's children run one kilometre about one minute slower than their parents did three decades ago. The figures were roughly the same for boys and girls. The distance a child can run is decreasing by around half of one per cent every year. One of the biggest reasons for the slowdown in children's running ability is obesity. Kids are overweight because they are eating too much and not exercising enough.
美國心臟協(xié)會的一項新的研究表明如今兒童的身體健康度比30年前有所下降。研究人員分析了過去46年的數(shù)據(jù)。統(tǒng)計數(shù)據(jù)包括28個國家的2500多萬名兒童。研究小組發(fā)現(xiàn)如今兒童平均所跑一公里的時間比其父母30年前的時間減慢了一分鐘。男孩和女孩的這一數(shù)據(jù)大致相同。兒童所跑距離每年都會降低大約0.5%。兒童奔跑能力下降的最主要原因是肥胖。兒童超重的原因是食用過多食物,運動量少。
The researchers say their report is worrying. If children are becoming fatter and less fit, they will be unhealthier in the future. Lead researcher Dr Grant Tomkinson said: "If a young person is generally unfit now, then they are more likely to develop conditions like heart disease later in life." Dr Tomkinson said: "We need to help to inspire children and youth to develop fitness habits that will keep them healthy now and into the future. They need to choose a range of physical activities they like or think they might like to try, and they need to get moving." He added: "Young people can be fit in different ways. They can be strong like a weightlifter, or flexible like a gymnast, or skillful like a tennis player."
研究人員稱這一報告讓人擔心。如果兒童超重,運動量減少,那么他們將變得更加不健康。研究主任格蘭特·湯姆金森博士稱:“如果年輕人現(xiàn)在就不健康,那么他們很有可能在未來患上如心臟病等疾病。湯姆金森博士稱:“我們需要幫助年輕人和兒童,并讓他們培養(yǎng)起能夠讓他們健康的好習慣。他們需要選擇一些他們喜歡,或者是去嘗試一些運動,并行動起來。”他還說:“年輕人能夠通過不同方式來保持體形。他們可以像舉重運動員一樣強壯,或是像體操員一樣靈活自如,或是像網(wǎng)球運動員一樣熟練。”