新奇事件簿 儿童运动能力下降

A new report from the American Heart Association says fitness¹ levels in children are lower today than they were 30 years ago. The researchers looked at data from the past 46 years. The statistics² were on more than 25 million children in 28 countries. The research team found that on average, today's children run one kilometre about one minute slower than their parents did three decades ago. The figures were roughly the same for boys and girls. The distance a child can run is decreasing by around half of one per cent every year. One of the biggest reasons for the slowdown in children's running ability is obesity³. Kids are overweight because they are eating too much and not exercising enough.

美国心脏协会的一项新的研究表明如今儿童的身体健康度比30年前有所下降。研究人员分析了过去46年的数据。统计数据包括28个国家的2500多万名儿童。研究小组发现如今儿童平均所跑一公里的时间比其父母30年前的时间减慢了一分钟。男孩和女孩的这一数据大致相同。儿童所跑距离每年都会降低大约0.5%。儿童奔跑能力下降的最主要原因是肥胖。儿童超重的原因是食用过多食物，运动量少。

The researchers say their report is worrying. If children are becoming fatter and less fit, they will be unhealthier in the future. Lead researcher Dr Grant Tomkinson said: "If a young person is generally unfit now, then they are more likely to develop conditions like heart disease later in life." Dr Tomkinson said: "We need to help to inspire children and youth to develop fitness habits that will keep them healthy now and into the future. They need to choose a range of physical activities they like or think they might like to try, and they need to get moving." He added: "Young people can be fit in different ways. They can be strong like a weightlifter, or flexible like a gymnast, or skillful like a tennis player."

研究人员称这一报告让人担心。如果儿童超重，运动量减少，那么他们将变得更加不健康。研究主任格兰特·汤姆金森博士称：“如果年轻人现在就不健康，那么他们很有可能在未来患上如心脏病等疾病。汤姆金森博士称：“我们需要帮助年轻人和儿童，并让他们培养起能够让他们健康的好习惯。他们需要选择一些他们喜欢，或者是去尝试一些运动，并行动起来。”他还说：“年轻人能够通过不同方式来保持体形。他们可以像举重运动员一样强壮，或是像体操员一样灵活自如，或是像网球运动员一样熟练。”

1 fitness   

n.适合，适当，健康，健身

参考例句：

• They're doing exercises to improve their fitness.他们为增强体质而做体操。
• No one questions her fitness for the job.没人怀疑她能胜任这项工作。

2 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。

3 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。