More Than Half Of U.S. Children Lack Proper Heart, Lung Fitness

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on StudyFinds.

Despite all the advances in medicine and exercising, today’s children are not as healthy as previous generations. A new study by the American Heart Association (AHA) not only backs up that claim but reveals a shocking number of kids are in poor health. Researchers say nearly 60 percent of children in the U.S. don’t have healthy cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). This puts them at significant risk for serious health conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

CRF is a key indicator of fitness and health. It refers to the body’s ability to transport oxygen to muscles during sustained physical activity. Children with healthy CRF have better health as adults and live longer than those with unhealthy CRF.

According to the report, higher CRF also results in better academic performance, cognitive skills, mental health, life satisfaction, and a higher sense of self-worth.

Unfortunately, AHA researchers say studies find CRF among children is declining around the world over the last two decades. Unsurprisingly, one of the greatest contributors to low CRF in children is inadequate physical activity. Today’s kids play fewer physically challenging games and exercise less.

The findings are published in the AHA journal Circulation.

Source: Study Finds
https://www.studyfinds.org/american-children-lack-heart-and-lung-fitness/