奇速英语

缺少奔跑的儿童

A new report from the American Heart Association（美国心脏协会）says fitness levels in children are lower today than they were 30 years ago. The researchers looked at the results from the past 46 years. The surveys were on more than 25 million children in 28 countries. The research team found that on average, the children today run one kilometre a minute slower than their parents did thirty years ago. The results were almost the same for boys and girls. One of the biggest reasons for the slowdown in children's running ability is obesity. Kids are overweight because they are eating too much and not exercising enough.

The researchers say their report is worrying. If children are becoming fatter and less fit, they will be unhealthier in the future. Dr Grant Tomkinson said, “If a young person is unfit now, then they are more likely to get illness, like heart disease later in life.” Dr Tomkinson said,“We need to help the children and young people develop fitness habits that will keep them healthy now and in the future.”He added, “Young people can be fit in different ways. They can be strong like a weightlifter (举重的人), or flexible like a gymnast (体操运动员), or skillful like a tennis player.”