Telling children to sit still might be exactly the wrong message to give. Long periods of inactivity could cause changes in blood circulation even in young children, which may increase risk of heart disease later in life.
Researchers measured nine girls between 7 and 10 years old for blood flow in their legs before and after they spent three hours in beanbag chairs in the lab watching movies and playing games on iPads. The researchers found that the veg-out sessions were associated with a 33% decrease in the flexibility of the artery in the thigh, similar to the effect that marathon sitting has been observed to have in adults.
“We didn’t expect quite such a profound effect in children,” partly because children seem like they could be more resilient to sedentary behavior, said Alison McManus, associate professor of pediatric physiology at the University of British Columbia.
The stiffening of the thigh artery in this study could increase the risk of cardiovascular problems by about 25%, at least until the vessel regains its flexibility. The artery did seem to bounce back quickly; the blood flow was normal again by the time the girls returned to the lab several days later for the exercise session.
The concern is that if children make a habit of being inactive, their arteries could eventually lose the stretchiness, and they will be at greater risk of heart attack and stroke when they are adults.
There could even be benefit for children in standing or moving 10 minutes every half hour. This additional movement could help them remain more alert, and maintain good bone and muscle health. Teachers and schools can help by designing lessons and schedules around getting children to stand up every half hour or hour, and parents should keep an eye on their children to make sure they don’t spend too much time parked in front of the TV or computer.
Lead by example – get outside and be physically active. The stronger your muscles are, the greater the benefits of Chiropractic care.
