Filipino kids are growing up sitting down

The latest World Health Organization study on adolescent physical activity should alarm Filipino parents, educators and policymakers.

Around 40% of Filipino adolescents aged 11 to 17 reported having no day in the previous week with at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The global average is approximately 25%.

That puts Filipino teenagers among the least physically active in the world.

More disturbing is the absence of meaningful improvement. Inactivity barely changed between 2010 and 2025. Apparently, another generation of Filipino children is growing up with the same unhealthy habits.

One obvious culprit deserves greater attention: gadgets.

Children today are introduced to smartphones and tablets almost as soon as they can hold them. What begins as entertainment becomes a daily routine. Hours that previous generations spent playing outdoors, riding bicycles, running around neighborhoods or participating in sports are now spent watching videos, playing online games and scrolling through social media.

Technology is not inherently harmful, but excessive screen time encourages sedentary lifestyles. Parents who use gadgets to keep children occupied may unknowingly contribute to habits that eventually become difficult to break.

The WHO study does not establish gadgets as the sole cause of inactivity. It also identifies unsafe public spaces, inadequate recreational facilities, transportation problems and school environments as contributing factors. These deserve serious attention.

The gender gap is equally concerning. Some 42.7% of Filipino girls reported having no active day, compared with 38% of boys. Safety concerns, limited sports opportunities and cultural expectations may further discourage girls from participating in physical activities.

The consequences extend beyond childhood obesity. Physical inactivity increases the risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers later in life.

Government cannot solve this problem by issuing another health advisory. Schools need regular physical education, communities need safe playgrounds and cycling spaces, and parents must establish reasonable limits on screen time.

Most importantly, children must rediscover the pleasure of physical activity rather than regard exercise as another school requirement.

Filipino parents should also examine their own habits. It is difficult to convince children to put down their phones when adults are equally attached to theirs.

The country cannot afford to raise a generation that knows how to operate every gadget but struggles to run around the neighborhood.

A healthier Philippines begins with children who move more and stare at screens less.