Medical News
School uniforms may make it harder for young girls to exercise
International study suggests certain clothes , like skirts , may lead girls to exercise less than boys
The practise of requiring students to wear uniforms is associated with less time being active , especially among primary school girls , throwing a potential roadblock to enjoyable activities that can make kids significantly healthier .
�esearchers from Cambridge University sifted through the physical activity data of more than a million children and teenagers aged five to 17 years and found that students living in countries where most schools require uniforms are less likely to engage in 60 minutes of physical activity per day as recommended by the World Health Organization ( WHO ).
In general , fewer girls meet the WHO recommendation than boys , even if uniform requirements are not taken into account , but the gap is wider in countries where most primary school girls have to wear a uniform . The physical activity gap between boys and girls stood at 5.5 percentage points in primary schools of countries where uniforms are not the norm but jumped to � . � percentage points in nations where uniforms are common .
The same findings weren ’ t observed among secondary school students . One reason could be that primary school kids tend to do a lot of their daily exercise at school , while older ones have other opportunities to engage in physical activity .
The authors stress that their findings don ’ t prove school uniforms are responsible for reduced physical activity among girls as �causation cannot be inferred . � However , previous evidence suggests girls don ’ t feel like engaging in physical activity if they wear skirts or dresses .
�Schools often prefer to use uniforms for various reasons , � study leader Dr Mairead �yan , a researcher at the Faculty of Education and Medical �esearch Council ( M�C ) Epidemiology Unit , University of Cambridge , said in a press release . “ We are not trying to suggest a blanket ban on them , but to present new evidence to support decision-making . School communities could consider design , and whether specific characteristics of a uniform might either encourage or restrict any opportunities for physical activity across the day .” Beyond the well-known benefits of reduced death risk and chronic disease prevention , such as against heart disease , cancer and diabetes , physical activity can also reduce feelings of depression and anxiety while enhancing thinking and learning skills , according to the WHO , which recommends children and adolescents aged five to 17 do an average of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity every day , mostly aerobic exercise .
Considering the importance of regular exercise , the authors of the new study say that more research is needed to understand whether uniforms cause students to engage in fewer physical activities .
“ Regular physical activity helps support multiple physical , mental , and well-being needs , as well as academic outcomes ,” Dr Ryan said . “ We now need more information to build on these findings , considering factors like how long students wear their uniforms for after school , whether this varies depending on their background , and how broader gendered clothing norms may impact their activity .”
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