Results from Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)’s 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Chen-Kang Chang1,*, Ching-Lin Wu2
1Department of Sport Performance, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan. 2Graduate Institute of Sports and Health Management, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Correspondence: Chen-Kang Chang (wspahn@seed.net.tw)
Introduction Recent national surveys in Taiwan revealed that a large proportion of children and youth did not have sufficient physical activity.
Methods
The 2018 Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) Report Card included 9 core indicators that are common to the Global Matrix 3.0. The best available data from 2010 to 2018 were consolidated.
Results
The grades for the 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card are provided in Table 1. The overall physical activity in children and adolescents is poor (F). The participation of sport teams and clubs in schools is low (D-) while the sedentary behaviour is abundant (C-). The fitness level is somewhat reasonable (B-) when comparing to the current norm established in 2011. The government has recognized the issue of insufficient physical activity and developed corresponding policy (B+). The physical education system and physical activity infrastructure from elementary schools to senior high schools are somewhat adequate (B+). More than 70% schools have adopted Sport & Health 150 (SH150) project which aims to reach 150 min physical activity per week in schools, excluding regular physical activity classes. The teenagers seem to be satisfied with physical activity infrastructure in the community (B+). There is no available nationwide high-quality data for active play and family and peers.
Conclusion It seems that, despite the great effort by the government and schools, physical activity and fitness levels are still low while sedentary behaviour remains high. The missing link may be the influence of family and peers, which warrant future research.
Table 1: Grades for Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)’s 2018 Report Card
Indicator |
Grades |
Overall Physical Activity |
F |
Organized Sport Participation |
D- |
Active Play |
INC |
Active Transportation |
C- |
Sedentary Behaviors |
C- |
Physical Fitness |
B- |
Family and Peers |
INC |
School |
B+ |
Community and Environment |
B+ |
Government |
B+ |