Why should the Next Generation of Youth Guidelines Prioritize Vigorous Physical Activity?

The health benefits of regular physical activity (PA) in youth are well-documented. Yet the adherence rate to PA guidelines among youth worldwide is alarmingly deficient with only 19% of youth worldwide adhering to the World Health Organization guidelines. This is reflective of a global proliferation of a physical inactivity pandemic among youth. The negative consequences of physical inactivity on health are profound, as they threaten to persist into adulthood, exacerbating the burden of preventable health issues. There is persuasive evidence that vigorous PA generates physical fitness and health benefits surpassing those of low- or moderate-intensity activity in youth. In addition, indications show that the adherence rate to vigorous PA among youth exceeds that relative to for low- or moderate-intensity activity. As a result, promoting vigorous PA can help mitigate the global issue of low adherence to PA in youth. Therefore, in this Current Opinion paper, we argue that vigorous PA, compared to low or moderate-intensity activity, holds greater significance for youth's health and physical fitness. Additionally, the potential implications derived from the existing evidence regarding vigorous PA on the current guidelines for youth are discussed. Key Points: The health benefits of regular physical activity in youth are well-established. Yet the adherence rate to physical activity guidelines among youth worldwide is alarmingly deficient with around 80% of youth worldwide not adhering to the World Health Organization guidelines. Persuasive evidence derived from observational, controlled interventions, as well as narrative and systematic reviews with meta-analysis, indicate that vigorous physical activity generates positive effects exceeding those induced by low- or moderate-intensity activity on youth health and physical fitness. The next generation of physical activity recommendations should place a greater emphasis on the significance of vigorous physical activity for youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]