European children’s fitness hits six‑decade low, study finds

European youth fitness decline strength reduction flexibility loss body fat increase public activity promotion

A new study by researchers at the University of Zaragoza, published in the journal Sports Medicine – Open, examined data from 417,362 children and adolescents aged 6‑16 across 20 European countries between 1965 and 2023. The analysis shows a steady decline in physical fitness indicators, with upper‑body strength decreasing since the 1970s, a brief period of stability from 1980‑2000, and then further decline. Lower‑body strength rose until the 1980s but has fallen continuously since.

Body composition has worsened, with a linear increase in body fat that is often underestimated when only BMI is considered. Flexibility has shown the most pronounced drop, accelerating after the year 2000. Cardiorespiratory fitness, after a long‑term decline, appears to have stabilized between 2015 and 2023, but levels remain lower than in previous decades. The authors warn that the current generation is missing a crucial health opportunity and call for stronger public‑sector efforts to promote regular physical activity among children.

The findings raise concerns about future health risks, including higher rates of obesity, chronic disease, and reduced overall well‑being, prompting calls for schools, families and policymakers to increase sport and active‑life initiatives.

Entities

European children · European children and adolescents · Sports Medicine – Open · University of Zaragoza · World Health Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 7 SOURCES] Cardiorespiratory fitness shows possible stabilization between 2015 and 2023 but remains below levels recorded in earlier decades. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Flexibility among European children has continuously declined, with an accelerated drop after the year 2000. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Researchers urge public institutions to intensify efforts to promote physical activity among youth. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Lower‑body strength increased until the 1980s and has been steadily decreasing since then. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The World Health Organization recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate‑to‑vigorous physical activity daily for children and adolescents. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Upper‑body muscular strength of European children has declined since the 1970s, with a brief stability period from 1980 to 2000. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The proportion of body fat among European youth has increased linearly over the study period. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The study analyzed 417,362 participants aged 6‑16 from 20 European countries between 1965 and 2023. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · de.euronews.com · es.euronews.com · www.euronews.com · it.euronews.com · +1 more