Australian children lack the basic movement skills to be active and healthy

Authors

Lisa Barnett, Deakin University
Louise Hardy, University of SydneyFollow
David Lubans, University of NewcastleFollow
Dylan Cliff, University of WollongongFollow
Anthony Okely, University of WollongongFollow
A P. Hills, Griffith University
Philip Morgan, University of Newcastle

RIS ID

88292

Publication Details

Barnett, L. M., Hardy, L. L., Lubans, D. R., Cliff, D. P., Okely, A. D., Hills, A. P. & Morgan, P. J. (2013). Australian children lack the basic movement skills to be active and healthy. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 24 (2), 82-84.

Abstract

Just as children need to be taught their ABCs to read and write, they also need to be taught fundamental movement skills (FMS), such as running, jumping, throwing and kicking, to provide the strongest foundation for a physically active lifestyle. Children who are proficient at FMS are more likely to be physically active and have adequate cardiorespiratory fitness, and are less likely to be overweight or obese compared with children who are not proficient. In addition, FMS-proficient children are more likely to become adolescents who are more active and with higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels.