In a study from Germany published in journal Applied Psychological Health and Well-being, researchers found that the more active children were, the more their quality of life improved, and the more their quality of life improved, the more physically active they were.

This study included almost 600 subjects between the ages of 10 to 17 years old. Physical activity was measured by the way of questionnaires that asked “on how many of the last seven days were you physically active for at least 60 minutes a day?” and “on how many days of a normal week are you physically active for at least 60 minutes?” Answers for both questions ranged from 0 to 7. Furthermore, health-related quality of life that measured physical, emotional and social well-being were also self-reported by the participants. The data was collected for three points over the course of a year.

Researchers found that the reciprocating relationship between physical activity and quality of life was bidirectional. They found that when the participants engaged in more physical activity, their overall quality of life also improved. And in a similar fashion, when their quality of life improved, they engaged in even more physical activity.

The reverse was also true when the less physical children and adolescents were, their quality of life also worsen. And when their quality of life worsen, their activity dropped even more.

Physical activity is one of the most important part of a child’s and adolescent’s development with continued benefits through their life time including improved social skills, cardiovascular fitness, healthy body weight, and healthy mental and emotional wellbeing.

Therefore, anything less than keeping your children active outside of their studies is just poor parenting. Don’t let your children waste away at the television. “Esports” is not sports. Sign them up for real physical sports if you want healthy, well adjusted children to develop into health, well adjusted adults.

D Gross et al. The reciprocal interplay of physical activity and health-related quality of life in children and adolescents: Evidence for both upward and downward spirals. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12396