Title: Results from India’s 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
List of Authors:
Jasmin Bhawra, Priyanka Chopra, Ranjani Harish, Anjana Mohan, Krishnaveni V Ghattu, Kumaran Kalyanaraman, and Tarun R Katapally
Introduction
With India’s youth projected to be a major proportion of the world’s workforce, evaluating active living in India has implications for the world economy. The 2018 India Report Card (IRC) addresses evidence gaps identified in the 2016 IRC using peer-reviewed and grey literature, as well as primary data obtained through key partners.
Methods
A systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted for all 10 indicators identified by Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA). Peer-reviewed data were appraised based on representativeness, sample size, data quality, and timeliness (i.e., recentness of data). Grey literature was appraised based on comprehensiveness, validity of the sources cited, and representativeness. Nationally representative data were given a higher weightage, followed by published data, unpublished raw data, and grey literature. Each indicator was assessed against parameters provided by AHKGA, and grades were assigned based on team consensus using the standardized rubric.
Results
A major proportion of the children and youth in India are not meeting recommended physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines (see Table 1). Physical activity type and levels varied significantly across the intersection of gender and socioeconomic status, with girls belonging to lower socioeconomic status having the greatest disadvantage due to cultural and safety perceptions. Based on the grades assigned to “Family and Peers” (D), “Community and Built Environment”(D), and “Government”(D), the active living challenges faced by children and youth in India could be attributed to lack of adequate political, social, and physical environmental support.
Conclusions/Recommendations
The 2018 IRC shows that although the vast majority of children and youth in India are not accumulating recommended levels of physical activity, there are encouraging signs of their participation in active transportation and active play. Active Healthy Kids India has been established to develop a nationally representative survey, and advocate for investments and policies to improve active living among children and youth in India.
Table 1: Grades and Rationale for India’s 2018 Report Card
Indicators |
Grades |
Rationale |
Overall Physical Activity |
D |
Approximately 25% of children and youth accumulate ? 60 minutes of MVPA daily. It is expected that children and youth from rural areas accumulate greater MVPA, however data from these populations is sparse and difficult to align with MVPA guidelines. |
Organized Sport Participation |
INC |
Insufficient data to grade this indicator. |
Active Play |
C- |
An average of 49% of children and youth spend at least 1 hour playing outdoors, and 37% spend at least 1 hour in active play. |
Active Transportation |
B- |
A weighted average of approximately 65% of children and youth reported walking or cycling to school on a regular basis. |
Sedentary Behaviours |
C- |
Less than half of Indian children and youth are meeting screen time-based sedentary behaviour guidelines. |
Physical Fitness |
F |
Approximately 15% of children and youth meet recommended standards for minimum fitness. |
Family and Peers |
D |
Approximately 30% of family/peers participate in physical activity with children and provide support/transport/access to physical activities. |
Schools |
INC |
Insufficient data to grade this indicator. |
Community and Built Environment |
D |
Six major Indian cities received low walkability ratings due to poor and unsafe infrastructure, and lack of sidewalks. Moreover, built environment was rated poorly for lack of urban infrastructure for walking and biking, access to physical activity spaces, safety from crime and traffic, and high pollution. |
Government |
D |
The majority of government strategies in India are focused on competitive sport. There is no readily available evidence of strategies and investments directed towards all children and youth, with a purpose to increase active living among the entire population. |