Supporting Teens Now Can Lead to Improved Health Later
11 Sep 2025
Research shows that children tend to become less active as they grow older, raising concerns about their future health habits.
New research published in PLOS One shows that as children grow older, their physical activity decreases and sedentary time increases, raising concerns about long-term health habits. The study pooled international and Australian data from 6,567 children and teens, using accelerometers to track movement.
Key findings include:
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Each year of age, low-level physical activity (LPA) drops by about 22 minutes a day.
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Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) decreases by three minutes a day.
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Sedentary time increases by roughly 25 minutes per year.
The research highlights that exercise during childhood supports physical fitness, cardiometabolic health, and mental wellbeing, yet many children and adolescents do not meet the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily.
Opportunities for GPs
Dr Tim Jones, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Child and Young Person’s Health, said the study reflects a familiar trend:
“As kids become teenagers and young adults, sedentary behaviour rises at a critical time when lifelong habits are formed. This represents a missed opportunity for early preventive care.”
Dr Jones points to factors such as reduced participation in peer sports, less family-based exercise, increased online socialising, and busy schedules as contributing to sedentary behaviour.
However, he emphasises that GPs can play a key role in empowering young people to take charge of their health:
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Engage adolescents during consultations to discuss preventive care and realistic health goals.
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Support families in establishing healthy routines before children turn 12, which are more likely to continue into adolescence and adulthood.
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Build professional relationships based on trust and understanding, helping teens set achievable health goals together.
Dr Jones added that adolescence is also a critical time for identity formation, and effective engagement requires curiosity, non-judgement, and empowerment, rather than prescriptive advice.
“Every minute spent empowering young people today can lead to significant long-term health benefits,” he said.
(Source: PLOS One; RACGP Specific Interests Child and Young Person’s Health)
