North-West University aides in grading SA’s youth health

Children in South Africa are still in trouble.

This is evident from the launch of the Healthy Active Kids SA Report Card (HAKSA) that was launched in Johannesburg on Thursday 24 May.

Childhood obesity is on the rise with 25% of them being overweight and 10% of them obese. Coupled with that is the fact that physical activity as well as physical fitness is on the decline with more of 50% of children falling under the accepted levels. Another point of concern is that more than 80% of South African children are consuming fatty food and sweetened beverages.

South African children received an overall C rating (40%-59%) which does indicate the success with regards to the implementation of healthy active lifestyles in half of the South African population younger than the age of 17.

It is, however, not enough.

The report card is spearheaded by Discovery Health and the Sport Science Institute of South Africa, whilst the North-West University played a major role in the drafting of the report with Prof Andries Monyeki and Prof Anita Pienaar, both from the research entity PhASRec (Physical Activity, Sport & Recreation) and Prof Salomé Kruger from CEN (Centre of Excellence for Nutrition) all supplying their expertise.

There report makes use of six grades (A, B, C, D, F, I) and reflects the best available scientific evidence from the last five years concerning physical activity and healthy eating in South African children and youth. It builds on the evidence gathered for previous report cards in 2007, 2010 and 2014.

The report also analyses whether South Africa’s children and youth are meeting recommendations and attempt to unpack factors that contribute to making healthy choices easier. The 2016 report card provides a grade for nine physical activity indicators including indicators such as overall physical activity  level, organised sport participation, active and outdoor play as well as fruit and vegetable intake.

The report shows that fast food intake continues to rise and that the fast food industry is growing at a rapid rate. The past five years saw an increase of 10 million people consuming fast food in a month and that the average adolescent consumes fast food 11 times a week, although national school nutrition programmes are proving to be effective.