RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Experts: Adults and society setting stage for their unhealthy sedentary lifestyle
PETALING JAYA: Get moving! Literally.
That’s the message Malaysians should take to heart following news that four out of five teenagers have a “sedentary lifestyle”.
These adolescents are putting their health at risk, said experts, adding that urgent action must be taken to get teens moving.
However, they also believe that the onus to change is not on adolescents alone, as they pointed out that adults too have a poor showing when it comes to healthy living and mobility.
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In fact, Malaysia is a “chart topper” for the wrong reason: the country is ranked third in a survey of smartphone addiction among 24 nations.
The findings were revealed last year by McGill University in Canada based on a sample of 33,831 people aged between 15 and 35, following meta-analysis done from 2014 to 2020.
Consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar-Singh HSS acknowledged the tendency to blame social media, smartphones and the Internet for these youngsters’ physical inactiveness, but he said there was a need to recognise that the problem rests with adults and society.
He said the authorities, too, have not developed cities to be “outdoor play friendly” even as 75% of Malaysia’s 32 million population live in urban areas.
“We have extremely few parks and safe play areas for teenagers in all our cities.
“Our roads are unsafe for them to walk and cycle, and there are limited outdoor team activities,” Dr Amar-Singh said when contacted.
He also pointed out that with increased city-wide built-up areas, the loss of vegetation, heat-generating cars and air-conditioning causing an urban heat island effect, outdoor activities are becoming less comfortable.
“Most parents are also reluctant to let their children play outdoors due to safety concerns,” he said, adding that a 2015 study by the Perak Clinical Research Centre showed that 66% of play was indoors and 86% of parents preferred it this way for safety reasons.
“In addition, most adults are sedentary and are occupied with their screen and their own social media.
“Many adults do not make an effort to have weekly outdoor family times together to play and have fun. Shopping in arcades and eating out do not count,” he added.
Dr Amar-Singh said that an inactive and sedentary lifestyle, one that involved mostly being indoors and occupied with the screen instead of outdoor activities, could have negative effects on the health and well-being of teenagers.
There is a higher risk of being overweight and obese, leading to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, he added.
“Physical activity stimulates not just the body but also the brain. It enhances memory, attention and creativity. Inactive teenagers may not do as well academically,” he said.
He also said physical activity, especially outdoor team activities, could improve emotional regulation and opportunities for social interaction.
This benefit is not as good when interacting via screens, he added.
He said it is high time that adults change their own habits by stopping their screen and social media addictions and set an example for teenagers.
The government, on its part, should provide infrastructure that encouraged more mobility, he added.
He said city councils should promote green spaces and recreational areas and reduce vehicles, while there should be an investment in urban mobility using electric bus rapid transit, walking and cycling.
Public health expert Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said the problem of inactivity cuts across all age groups including adolescents, adults and the elderly.
She said that most adolescents were addicted to social media and engrossed with their gadgets, adding that this could have been further accelerated during the pandemic lockdowns.
“It not only leads to musculoskeletal problems, but affects vision, concentration and mental health too. Physical inactivity also contributes to being overweight and obese,” Prof Sharifa Ezat said, adding that many of these negative effects could continue into adulthood.
She said those suffering from obesity are at risk of impaired glucose tolerance, which can put them into the early diabetic stage before they become a full-blown diabetic by the time they are 30.
Parents and the community must be exemplary and reinforce the importance of being active and health literate, she added.
The government, Prof Sharifa Ezat said, must equip schools with enough sports equipment to encourage more physical activity among schoolchildren.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022 has shown a rising prevalence of obesity, physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, poor dietary choices and excessive consumption of carbonated soft drinks and fast food among Malaysian adolescents aged 13 to 17.
The survey found that four in five adolescents are physically inactive, with two in three adolescents leading predominantly sedentary lifestyles.
The NHMS 2022 also revealed that four in five adolescents do not consume an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables.
