WASHINGTON, D.C. – The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging Caribbean parents not to allow their toddlers to spend more than 60 minutes passively watching a screen every day, while babies under 12 months should have none.
Less television and more physical activity is good, says WHOWHO, the international organization which is launching a campaign to tackle the global obesity crisis, believes doing that will ensure Caribbean children grow up fit and well.
The health agency, which has made recommendations specifically aimed at children under age five for the first time, said an estimated 40 million children around the globe are overweight.
The guidelines, which refer to passive activities such as watching cartoons, for example, as opposed to going online to talk to a grandparent, build on data gathered in countries in several countries which show that as many as 75 percent of children do not have healthy lifestyles.
“That takes a moment to think about,” said Dr. Fiona Bull, a program manager at WHO’s Department of Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases.
“Children under five, who seem to be running around and busy all day and certainly tiring their parents, may not be as active as we think.”
‘MORE IS BETTER’
In addition to screen time recommendations for young children the WHO said they should be physically active several times a day and get lots of sleep.
“More is better,” the WHO report maintains, suggesting that carers should engage in interactive floor-based play and ensure that babies who are not yet walking spend at least 30 minutes on their stomach, rather than sitting in a chair.
“The advice is where possible, to move from sedentary, passive screen time to more physical activity while at the same time protecting that very important quality sleep,” said Dr. Juana Willumsen, WHO focal point for childhood obesity and physical activity.
“And what’s particularly important is that quality interactive play with a caregiver that’s so important for early childhood development…that sedentary time should also be protected.”
ACTIVE
The WHO said children ages one to four years old should be active for at least 180 minutes throughout the day and cites walking, crawling, running, jumping, balancing, climbing, dancing, riding wheeled toys, cycling and jumping rope as suitable pastimes.
It said for three to four-year-olds, moreover, 60 minutes of this activity should be of “moderate-to-vigorous intensity”, noting that around the world, five million people die annually because they are not active enough.
“Sedentary behaviors, whether riding motorized transport rather than walking or cycling, sitting at a desk in school, watching TV or playing inactive screen-based games are increasingly prevalent and associated with poor health outcomes,” noted the WHO’s guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep recommends for children under five years old.
