– This is not difficult at all, it comes from the kids in Espira Salamonsongen in Bømlo in Vestland. With light steps, they climb up and down the rock in the outdoor area of the kindergarten. Mostly it’s going well. But sometimes things go wrong, and plasters have to be put on. – A little abrasion is included. But we don’t want them to get hurt, says director Heine Larsen of the nursery school. A large outdoor area, with opportunities for climbing in both rock and wood, is important for the kindergarten at Bømlo. Photo: Olav Røli / news Fear the cold It was precisely the Norwegian free play that brought the Greek researchers Konstantinos Fissas and Elida Kalpogianni to Norway. They are both connected to the organization Playing in Greece, which promotes play and activity among children and young people. In collaboration with Høgskulen på Vestlandet (HVL), they will now investigate whether Norwegian kindergartens have anything to teach them. Namely, they are very worried about obesity among Greek children. So many struggle with obesity Obesity has almost tripled worldwide since 1975. In 2016, 1.9 billion adults (over 18) were overweight. This means that they had a BMI of over 25. 650 of these had a BMI that was higher than 30. Being overweight is associated with an increased risk of many diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. There is also an increased risk of some types of cancer. Obesity among children is measured in other ways than through BMI. According to the WHO, 39 million children under the age of five worldwide were overweight. In the age group 5 to 19 years, the figure was 340 million in 2016. In Norway, results from the Child Growth Study show that: Among third-graders measured in 2015, 12 percent were overweight, while 3 percent were obese: Among girls, 14 percent and among boys 11 percent were overweight, while 3 per cent of girls and 2 per cent of boys were obese (FHI, 2017). Source: The Institute of Public Health and WHO Kalpogianni sees a clear connection between lack of activity and obesity in the home country. – The children are not outside enough and are not allowed to be active enough, says Kalpogianni. The reasons are complex. Parents are afraid that their children will freeze or get wet. – If it’s 12 degrees outside, yes, not minus, many people think it’s too cold. Instead, the children sit inside, she says. Mio Hopen Ådnanes has climbed all the way to the top. Mika Leander Klovning-Engseth, Vilde Gilje Kausrud, Astrid Skailand and Mari Mæland (adult) follow along. Photo: Olav Røli / news WHO: Greece on the top list Kosthald also has something to say. The so-called Mediterranean diet has for many years been highlighted as a success factor for a long and good life. – It is a big question whether all children who live around the Mediterranean actually receive this diet. Many people do not get as much fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition, there is a lot of anxiety about food, and many Greek parents have a tendency to give their children too much food instead, she answers. Figures from the WHO place Greece on the top three list in Europe of countries struggling with obesity among children. In Norway, there are no comparable figures. But in the child weight study from FHI it appears that 12 per cent of all third graders measured in 2015 were overweight. Noora Ahmadi and Leah Isabell Klepperås Haugstulen have made it to the top. Photo: Olav Røli / news Obesity and increasing BMI is a major health challenge for the whole of Europe. And development is going in the wrong direction. This has worsened since the pandemic, which accelerated an inactive lifestyle, according to the WHO. Fear of injury Kalpogianni says that many parents are afraid that their children will injure themselves while playing. – A kindergarten like this, with big rocks to climb on, would have been seen as dangerous for many Greek parents, she says. Heine Larsen is the director of Salamonsongen kindergarten, and shows here that the kindergarten is looking for Konstaninos Fissas (back) and Elida Kalpogianni. Photo: Olav Røli / news The kindergarten in Vestland is also active in nature. And last autumn, among other things, bird hunting was on the programme. – This would have been an absolute “no-no” in Greece, says Kalpogianni as she watches the video of the bird hunt on Heine Larsen’s phone. He says that it is crucial for children’s motor skills and risk analysis to be allowed to play outside in nature. – If they are to learn how to analyze risk, they must also go on a few trips, says Larsen. He is supported by Bendik Sierra, subject teacher in physical education, sports and outdoor life at HVL – Children are not afraid, and they must be set free. They must learn from their experiences. In Greece, they keep the children back, he says. Matheo Hovland and Jonas Alvsvåg Særsten enjoy climbing. Photo: Olav Røli / news Lay a good foundation Professor Jostein Steene-Johannessen at Norway’s Sports Academy has since 2005 mapped activity among Norwegian children. – The more active one is as a child and young person, the greater the chance of taking good habits into life as an adult. For the most part, the activity has remained stable for children between 6 and 9 years of age. But among 9-year-old boys, the tendency has pointed in the wrong direction. – The reason may be that we now have several arenas for sedentary activity, such as tablets, computer games and mobile phones, he explains. In Greece, the academic tradition is strong. And Kalpogianni says that most people know that children do not get sick from being outside in the rain and cold weather, or from getting their fingers dirty. – But I have a tendency to overprotect. Now I need to update people that activity and play are good, she says. Hello! Do you have any thoughts after reading this case, or would you like to advise us about similar or other cases. Send me an email.
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Can Norwegian play reduce obesity in Greece? Greek researchers will find an answer to that – news Vestland
