As COVID-19 reaches record levels in the UK, health experts are calling for a focus on children's physical fitness as new research reveals concerning changes to children's health and physical fitness following the pandemic.

Conducted by Newcastle University (UK), the University of South Australia, Edinburgh Napier University and Murdoch University, the study assessed one-year changes in children's physical fitness and health-related quality of life and body mass index (BMI), after the 2020 COVID-19 UK lockdowns.

Researchers found that for children 8-10 years old:

• 51% of children were classed as 'unfit' (compared with 35% at baseline)
• 47% of children were overweight or obese (compared with 33% at baseline)
• Children's body mass increased by an average of 6.8 kg, about twice the amount expected in this time period.

UniSA researcher, Dr. Naomi Burn says the study highlights the vital importance of physical fitness for children's health and wellbeing, post-pandemic.

"Physical fitness is incredibly important for children of all ages, with fitness linked to a range of health outcomes, including heart and skeletal health, body composition, and mental wellbeing," Dr. Burn says.

"When COVID-19 hit the United Kingdom in 2020, infection control measures led to the closure of schools for most pupils; outdoor playgrounds and sports clubs closed, and for many months outdoor exercise was limited to only one hour per day.

"Such unprecedented restrictions have had a distinct impact on children's physical and mental health, with nearly half of children presenting as being obese and more than half classified as unfit.

"While the pandemic persists, we need to recognise the need to keep kids healthy and active. Not only will this benefit them now, but also later in life.

"Right now, we need governments, schools and communities to establish programs and policies that can support involvement in sports and physical activities. This is vital for children's health recovery both post lockdown and in the case of future restrictions."