Ever feel like you’ve been sitting for hours on end? Same here. Whether it was doom scrolling or just simply doing my homework, I find myself sitting. Finally, I realized: Dang. When’s the last time I just walked around?
That’s why I looked into how sedentary teens were, and the results were shocking: you might actually be moving as little—or even less—than a 60-year-old. Sounds insane, right? Yet that’s exactly what a study from 2017 suggests. And I doubt its much better today. After all, it’s the age of TikTok. Right now, social media corporations are practically strategizing ways to get us stuck to our phones. So can we fight back?
Just how inactive are teens?
I’m sure you can guess: a lot. As of 2022, 80% of teens were not sufficiently active and spent more than 2 hours of recreational screen time–that’s right, playing video games or looking on social media, not just doing schoolwork.
Right now, we’re also experiencing an obesity crisis in teens. 1 in 5 children or teens are obese. This isn’t always a result of lifestyle–but it definitely reflects the more sedentary lifestyle of teens today.
Some say this is an after effect of the pandemic years–which might very well be true. But the pandemic is over. We need to get up.
Why is inactivity a problem?
Mental health decline. Recent research says that those with a sedentary lifestyle are more susceptible to depression and anxiety for a variety of reasons. For one thing, because it can lead to decreased social interaction, but also because once we stop moving around, our brain has less of an opportunity to produce “happy hormones” like serotonin.
Physical risks. More sitting increases risk of obesity, weak bones, poor posture, and low energy.
School and life impact. Low activity–and in tandem, poor mental health–can disrupt sleep, focus, and mood. Less movement means more exhaustion and trouble concentrating.
And a sedentary lifestyle can lead to a poor health further down the road. According the World Health Organization, nearly a third or 1.8 billion adults worldwide have not met recommended levels of physical activity, risking greater chance of cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes, and cancer.
“Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases,” said Dr Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO.
Why are teens moving less?
Screens everywhere—phones, TVs, computers—mean more sitting and scrolling. And yeah, social media exists.
School schedules aren’t innocent either–they often lack time for movement between classes.
Fewer parks or safe spaces for sports in some communities.
What needs to happen?
Daily habits. Teens should aim for at least 60 minutes a day of walking, dancing, biking, or any movement. Even just walking or using the stairs helps.
School policy changes. Introduce short activity breaks between classes, more PE, active homework (like walking discussions or outdoor projects). Write a petition to your school superintendent! Or you could write a piece and submit it to your school newspaper!
Community and peer support. Encourage after-school running or wellness clubs or friend groups. You’ll be more motivated once you’re in a group!
Public campaigns. Local youth councils or school groups can advocate for more physical spaces and time for activity in school and neighborhood planning. Look to see if there’s any local parks in your area that are being built on!
Why it matters now
When teens move as little as 60-year-olds, bodies suffer, minds struggle, and habits set in early. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a warning. If we don’t change our ways now, we might be setting ourselves up for much shorter, more painful lives. And anyways, active teens tend to sleep better and overall perform better. If we don’t get up, we can’t be the best versions of ourselves.
