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Deprived of their usual physical activities, with their eyes glued to their computers and tablets, Quebec’s youth now face problems of overweight, obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Schools, however, can play a central role in the fight against obesity and the sedentary lifestyle created by screens, according to an expert.
Currently, Quebec’s elementary and secondary schools offer little advice for managing screen time and some periods of physical education, says pediatric endocrinologist Mélanie Henderson. “This is an extraordinary springboard for action, because all the young people are in school,” he said in an interview.
M.myself Henderson also admits that she is concerned about what she sees in the clinic. “I see young people who have catastrophic weight gains, she is alarmed. It’s hard when you’ve gained 15 pounds in three to four months […] to lose them. He cites an American study indicating that 57% of children today will be obese by the age of 35, which is three times the current average obesity of adults aged 35.
In his eyes, change can come through school. “We have an interesting opportunity at school to develop extracurricular programs, activity programs during recess, to increase the time for physical education classes,” explains Mélanie Henderson. “Not only is this a role to play, but we have a golden opportunity to truly reach the entire pediatric and adolescent population and have interventions that have convincing effects. “
Screen time
In addition, the doctor questions the tablet in schools, which is increasingly widespread due to the pandemic. “I’m not convinced it’s best for young people, because it creates a lot of distractions,” she says.
He believes that the Ministry of Education cannot do without an assessment of the effects of this technology on young people. “If we think it’s a good, perfect way, let’s evaluate,” he says. Let’s see if this gives better results. “
I see young people who have catastrophic weight gains […] It’s hard when you’ve gained 15 pounds in three to four months […] to lose them
The massive arrival of tablets in schools has never been accompanied by a necessary warning against the deleterious effects, deplored earlier this week by experts on the matter.
Their media talk comes nine months after a government forum on youth screens and health was held, a forum that was interrupted by the pandemic and to which there has not yet been any follow-up.
The first part of the forum concluded that screens affect vision, sleep, weight and language skills, as well as increase the risk of developing addiction, anxiety and low self-esteem.
“On-screen health data is not recognized in the education sector,” notes Tania Tremblay, a psychology teacher at Montmorency College and an associate researcher at UQAM in an interview.
Caroline Fitzpatrick, of the Psychology Department at the Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia, called for a committee to be created where health and education experts could “try to create a dialogue”.
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