THE overall physical activity levels of Australian schoolchildren rank among the worst in the world, earning a dismal D-minus on a new international report card released on Wednesday.

The findings — described as a time bomb for future health problems — have also prompted warnings that parents cannot rely solely on children’s sport to keep them active.

The landmark report comes as the State Government prepares to axe one of its most successful preventive health programs to save money, just as smartphone and tablet use soars among children.

TELL US: What do you think of this finding?

SA Health confirmed to The Advertiser the Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle program, which aims to get children active and eating well, is under review along with other programs.

Since it began operating in 2009, OPAL has expanded to 20 council areas.

Its director Mark Williams says: “South Australian children now spend less time outdoors than at any other time in our history and with one in four children now either overweight or obese.”

Despite this, OPAL faces being wound down.

“There are a range of programs, including OPAL, which will be directly affected by the Federal Government’s decision to discontinue the National Partnership Agreements,” SA Health said in a written statement.

ADV PROMO - HEALTH ART KIDS

“We are currently reviewing the full implications of this decision and working with our stakeholders to see how we can minimise the disruption to these programs where possible.”

The D-minus rating in the inaugural Active Healthy Kids Australia Report Card is based on 81 per cent of 5-17-year-olds not meeting the Australian physical activity guidelines of at least 60 minutes of daily exercise.

In separate ratings, 71 per cent of 5-17-year-olds exceeded recommended screen time of no more than two hours a day, earning a D-minus for sedentary behaviour, while just 20 per cent walked or cycled to school at least once a week, earning a D.

The project’s three lead investigators are from the University of South Australia, while another 20 Australian university experts were involved.

The results triggered calls for mandatory physical activity in schools and for parents to get children busy with chores such as gardening as well as simply playing outside.

The project, supported by the National Heart Foundation of Australia, used an international ranking tool to measure Australia against 14 other countries.

Ten countries outranked Australia on the physical activity grade, including Mozambique, Mexico, Ghana, Columbia, England and New Zealand

Australia finished equal 11th with the United States, Canada and Ireland on D-minus, edging out only Scotland which received a “fail” grade.

UniSA lead investigators Dr Grant Tomkinson, Dr Natasha Schranz and Professor Tim Olds noted sport alone does not compensate for hours spent in front of TVs and computers or the drop-off in walking or bike riding to school.

“The broad message is — sport is not enough,” they said.

While praising sport for building teamwork, skills, discipline, adherence to rules, etiquette, decision making and confidence, they noted parents may over-estimate its physical impact.

Their report notes a child training twice a week and playing one game may spend up to six hours a week participating, but less than half of this may actually be doing vigorous physical activity — much would be listening, learning and watching.

They called on parents as well as schools and governments to do more to get children active, from walking to school to helping with household chores such as gardening.

Report lead author Dr Schranz of UniSA said too many Australian parents believe playing sport was enough to keep their kids healthy.

“Australia is a sporting nation, and vast numbers of children are involved in some type of

organised sport but this report clearly shows we need to be looking at further ways to keep kids

active when they are not on the sports field,” Dr Schranz said.

“Things like walking to school, playing outside and turning off televisions and computers also

contribute to overall health and physical activity levels — and these things are being forgotten.

“This is a wake-up call that we need a national conversation on how to get young people active.”

The Heart Foundation’s Associate Professor Trevor Shilton said the results are

“a time bomb” for future health problems.

“We’re raising a generation of couch potatoes and if we don’t start to reverse this trend, this will

drive up health problems in the future — obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease,” he said.

“We know what works. We need high quality, mandatory physical activity in our schools. We need to encourage and support our kids to stay active in everyday life — to be social and play outside, to walk and cycle in their neighbourhoods, do some household chores and limit hours of screen time.

“It requires a coordinated response — governments, communities, schools, families and individuals can all play a role, we just need to start the conversation.”

Join us on Facebook