What impact does the Corona pandemic have on the health of children and adolescents? This question was explored in the Bavarian Child Health Report 2022 entitled "Child Health in Times of a Pandemic - An Overview in Highlights", which was presented by Health Minister Klaus Holetschek at a press conference on June 2, 2022. The report is an update of the 2015 Child Health Report. During the event, Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz, Dean of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences and head of the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, also answered questions from the press representatives present.
Prof. Oberhoffer-Fritz complains that she is concerned about the lack of exercise among the approximately 2.2 million children and adolescents in the Free State, which has massively increased during the pandemic: "This could not have been foreseen to this extent." Something urgently needs to be done about this together now, he said, just as against the additional "Corona kilos." In a survey, 30 percent of children said they had put on weight during the pandemic phase.
The press conference generated widespread media coverage. Among others, the TV channel Sat.1 Bayern, the print media Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, ZEIT, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Stern, Augsburger Allgemeine, BILD-Zeitung, Abendzeitung, Fränkische Landeszeitung, Bayerische Staatszeitung, Neue Presse Coburg as well as the online portals BR24, RTL news, t-online, onetz and news4teachers reported on it.
Following the press conference, Prof. Oberhoffer-Fritz was on the program "17:30 Sat.1 Bayern" via live broadcast from the TUM Campus in the Olympic Park. In conversation with presenter Eva Grünbauer, the pediatric cardiologist talked about how much children should exercise: "The recommendations that exist in this regard start from the age of five. The ideal is a certain mixture of 60 minutes of endurance sports per day, such as running, cycling or swimming, as well as sports that involve strengthening the muscles, on about three days per week. It is particularly important not to sit too much. These are the recommendations issued by the World Health Organization at the end of 2020. These apply to all people from the age of five."
In addition, Prof. Oberhoffer-Fritz gave tips on how to motivate children to exercise: "The way to school is particularly suitable for getting children moving. There are more and more safe routes to school where, for example, cycling is possible, and the children should then use them. We parents should set an example, for example when we go on weekend excursions that are of a sporting nature, or when we take the children out for some exercise in the evening after work. Our role here is very important."
Asked whether there should be more fitness tests at schools to provide more intensive scientific support for children, the dean said, "I think a lot of that. For many years, we have had a project in Berchtesgadener Land in which we are networked with a large number of schools and incorporate these fitness tests into physical education classes. The students are very enthusiastic about it because it is a bit of a competition and they get direct feedback on where they have small weaknesses and where they can improve. That's why I think it's a good idea for motivation. It doesn't have to be linked to a grade, but it's an incentive to do something. And if you do it annually, you also see the immediate success of having done something."
To the interview at the broadcast program „17:30 Sat.1 Bayern“ on June 2, 2022
To the homepage of the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
To the Children's Health Report 2022 of the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz
Dean Department of Sport and Health Sciences
Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24601
e-mail: renate.oberhoffer(at)tum.de
Text: Romy Schwaiger
Photos: “17:30 Sat.1 Bayern”