INDIA’s FIRST SCHOOL HEALTH SURVEY |
This shares the results of India’s first ever school health assessment conducted by EduSports in 2009-2010. The findings are aimed at creating awareness amongst parents/ schools/ doctors about the state of health amongst children in the age group of 5 to 14 years.
KEY FINDINGS
- Problems of obesity and over-weight manifest themselves more prominently from an age of 8 and upwards.
- 25% of children above 8 years are obese/over-weight compared to 19% in the ages of 7 and below
- There is very little difference in the health levels of children across genders.
- Girls across age-groups tend to be slightly healthier (Normal BMI) compared to the boys in the similar age-groups. (~5% difference)
- There is no significant difference in the health levels of children between metros and non-metros.
- 54% of children in metros with the right BMI vs. 57% in the non-metros
ACTION STEPS/WATCHOUTS
It is essential:
1. To monitor if children lead ‘physically active lives’ (enough time to play, right physical activity) as they grow older to ensure they do not turn out to be obese/ over weight? (Esp. ages 8 and above)
2. To ensure children across genders and town-classes get access to the ‘Right level and type of Physical Activities’ to lead healthy lives. Hence, it is critical to understand that problems of obesity/over-weight are not metro/region/gender specific.
METHODOLOGY
The health assessment was conducted in 2009-2010 across 21 EduSports partner schools in 15 cities. It involved a cross sectional study (a single assessment of the sample) across 4098 children (2200 boys and 1898 girls) in the age group of 5 to 14 years. The different metrics measured include Body Mass Index, aerobic & anaerobic capacities, muscle strength, endurance and flexibility measurements.
DETAILS
1.
2. List of Cities where the study was conducted- Bangalore, Chennai, NCR (Noida, Gurgaon), Lucknow, Indore, Raipur, Madurai, Coimbatore, Mohali, Baroda, Amritsar, Panipat, Moga, Mangalore
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