Diane Gallagher Chair | Children's Mercy Hospital K.C.
Diane Gallagher Chair | Children's Mercy Hospital K.C.
Kansas City is known for its strong sports culture, with championship teams and dedicated fans. However, a recent study highlights a concerning trend: children in the area are among the least active in the United States. This inactivity could have significant effects on their self-esteem, mental health, and social interactions.
The Aspen Institute's annual State of Play study, conducted in partnership with Children’s Mercy Kansas City, reveals that four out of five children in the Kansas City area do not meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Nationally, only 24 percent of children achieve this level of activity; in Kansas City, it drops to 20 percent.
This lack of physical activity has broader implications beyond reduced sunlight exposure. Inactive youth are nearly twice as likely to experience daily feelings of depression compared to their active peers. Additionally, almost half of these children spend three to five hours online each day.
Dr. Robin Shook from the Kansas City Healthy Lifestyles Collaborative at Children’s Mercy attributes part of this problem to inadequate infrastructure for supporting youth sports within the city.
Read more about this issue in Kansas City Magazine.
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