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Welsh adolescents not getting enough exercise

An updated analysis for the Public Health Outcomes Framework reporting tool indicates that only 18 per cent of Welsh adolescents are getting the recommended amount of physical activity.

The current physical activity guidelines for the UK recommend that children and young people should be physically active for an average of a minimum 60 minutes per day across the week. However, the report suggests that 82 per cent of the surveyed adolescents aged 11-16 years were not doing so.

In other findings, eight per cent of adolescents aged 11-16 years reported drinking alcohol at least once a week. This figure was as high as 11 per cent in some parts of Wales. Furthermore, 18 per cent of adolescents aged 11-16 years were consuming sugary drinks once a day or more. This figure was as high as 22 per cent in some health board areas.

Susan Mably, a consultant for Public Health Wales, said: "The data confirms to us that, in common with many other parts of the World, young people in Wales are not as physically active as we would recommend, meaning that they are missing out on the numerous associated benefits to health and wellbeing."


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