Physical fitness of European children declines sharply, study finds

A large analysis of 417,362 children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 from 20 European countries, using data collected between 1965 and 2023, shows a worrying decline in physical fitness. Cardiorespiratory endurance increased until the early 1980s but has been falling ever since, and the overall level remains lower than in previous decades. Muscle strength in the upper body has continuously decreased from the 1970s to the 2020s, while leg strength grew until the 1980s before also dropping. Flexibility has steadily worsened, with an accelerated decline after 2000. The negative trends are more pronounced in boys than girls.

Researchers call for greater investment in promoting physical activity and healthy habits among youth, and they recommend establishing a standardized system to monitor children's fitness across Europe so that changes can be detected and compared promptly.