Unveiling Pandemic's Impact on Youth's Physical Performance: A Look at "MoMo 2.0" Study
Youngsters exhibit signs of diminished resilience and vitality following COVID-19 pandemic.
Get the lowdown on how the COVID-19 pandemic's restrictions may have influenced the fitness levels of the youth, as we delve into preliminary findings from the "MoMo 2.0" study.
Motor Skills: The Unseen Victim
Since 2003, the "Motorik-Modul" (MoMo) study has been tracking the motor performance, movement behavior, and health of German children and youth. The latest iteration, "MoMo 2.0," has shed some light on a concerning trend: a drop in endurance and strength among young participants.
Professor Alexander Woll, a sports scientist and the study's director, raises an alarm: "There's been a drop in endurance and strength." Currently, only unweighted raw data has been released, with a comprehensive analysis still underway.
Taking the Long, Hard Bike Test
According to initial calculations, boys' endurance performance in the bike test saw a 7.7% dip, with girls experiencing a steeper decline of 9.6%. This compelling data suggests that extended pandemic-induced restrictions, resulting in reduced movement opportunities, might be wreaking havoc on motor development in the long run.
Over 4,500 children and youth aged 4 to 17 were part of the study, which analyzed them at 200 representative locations across Germany between mid-2023 and the end of 2024. This wide-reaching research provides a solid foundation for understanding post-pandemic trends.
Post-Pandemic Congress: Insights At Your Fingertips
The raw data will be scrutinized at the "Children Move" congress in Karlsruhe. After the scientific evaluation, representative data will be available within a few weeks.
It's essential to note that other trends are emerging as well. Despite sports clubs recovering post-pandemic, only about 20% of boys and girls meet the World Health Organization's recommended activity levels.
MoMo 2.0: A Comprehensive Evaluation
In addition to the 4,500 newly surveyed and examined children and youth, approximately 1,500 young participants who were already under expert care before, during, and after the pandemic, have also been included in "MoMo 2.0." This expanded research focuses on areas such as media consumption and mental health.
Although the full impact of the pandemic on the physical development of children is still under investigation, it's crucial to remain aware of the potential challenges and take proactive steps to support youth's healthy motor development post-pandemic.
Source: ntv.de, mpe/dpa
- Physical Fitness
- Corona Measures
- Children
- The "MoMo 2.0" study, focusing on the motor performance and health of German children and youth, has revealed a worrying decrease in endurance and strength among participants, which could be a result of extended pandemic-induced restrictions and reduced movement opportunities.
- While the full impact of the pandemic on the physical development of children is yet to be conclusively determined, existing health policies and community policies should be evaluated to ensure they support the healthy motor development of children, particularly during pandemics.
- Apart from the declining endurance among children as a result of the pandemic, the "MoMo 2.0" study also includes data on media consumption and mental health, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of the pandemic on children's well-being.
