Children’s physical activity levels are associated with both physiological and psychosocial health. Current physical activity guidelines recommend children to engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. However, despite this, it is estimated that over a third of children fail to meet these recommended guidelines, with a common barrier suggested to be technology.
In this episode of Exploring Global Problems, Professor Kelly Mackintosh along with our host, Dr Sam Blaxland discuss the impact COVID-19 has had, specifically on children’s physical activity. They later explore the importance and health benefits associated with exercise and discover how we can all make some positive changes to our lifestyles by embedding physical activity into our daily routines.
Professor Mackintosh is primarily interested in children’s physical activity and health, and in particular, school-based interventions. Within this area, her work focuses on physical activity measurement and the role of behaviour change in developing physically active young people.
Professor Mackintosh is currently the Director of Research Staff for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and leads the Exercise, Medicine and Health Research Group. Her research focusses on physical activity measurement and promotion, with a particular interest and focus in children. In collaboration with colleagues, they established the Welsh Institute of Physical Activity Health and Sport (WIPAHS), which is a partnership with Sport Wales and all Higher Education Institutes across Wales, bringing together academia, those facilitating physical activity, policy makers, and the public, to address fundamental questions surrounding the nations’ health and well-being.
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