Nearly 500 schoolchildren participate in the sports days of the Municipal Board of Barajas

Miranda highlights the importance of promoting physical activity and sports at an early age

MADRID, 17 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Nearly half a thousand fifth-grade students from schools in the Barajas district have participated in the sports days organized by the municipal board during this last school term, and in which they have received tennis, paddle tennis, badminton and fencing classes in the Barajas and Villa de Madrid sports centers.

During a visit to the conference addressed to CEIP Margaret Thatcher students at CDM Barajas, the district councilor, Sofía Miranda, highlighted the importance of promoting physical activity and sports at an early age in the face of high levels of excess weight seen in the little ones.

Miranda has made reference to the Study on physical activity, sedentary lifestyle and obesity of boys and girls in the city of Madrid, which reflects that 40.4 percent of the population between 8 and 12 years old has childhood excess weight, while 20.1 percent have abdominal obesity.

According to the study, 32.8 percent of children meet the WHO recommendation of practicing one hour a day of physical activity of moderate or vigorous intensity.

“It is essential that sports be practiced regularly from an early age, because it has outstanding benefits for physical and psychological health and also because it improves relationships with others, self-esteem, concentration and humor,” Miranda said.