Kiwi teens less fit than their parents were

New Zealand teenagers are less fit and weigh more than their parents did at the same age, new University of Otago research reveals. A comparison of 15-yearolds across two generations found a decline in adolescent physical fitness, accompanied by an increase in body weight.

The decline in fitness was particularly noticeable for girls who weighed more and were less fit than their mothers had been at the same age. Research leader Bob Hancox says the findings support many people’s perception that young people are less active and fit than their previous generations.

NZ Medical Journal, September 2018