Authorities on Monday launched the "active school" project to stimulate physical activity among Thai children as most of them have sedentary behaviours for more than 13 hours a day, sleeping excluded, at the risk of poor development.
Mahidol University, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Basic Education Commission announced the project in Bangkok.
Children needed physical activities for at least 60 minutes per day but surveys in 2014 and 2015 found that only 37% of Thai children had them, said Piyawat Ketwongsa, a chief researcher at Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research.
"Sedentary behaviours mean to sit still and rarely move. This includes the use of electronic screens of, for example, TV, computers, tablets and smartphones. Surveys found that Thai children spend 13 hours and 35 minutes with sedentary behaviours, excluding sleeping, each day," he said.
Surveys also showed that 41% of Thai children spent six hours a day watching TV, he said.
Movements had effects on brain functions, as well as thinking, analytic and problem-solving development, he said.
The "active school" project initially involved 12 primary schools in Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Khon Kaen and Songkhla provinces. Their classrooms and outdoor areas were redesigned to stimulate physical activities. Internal paths and roads were painted with zigzag and checked patterns to encourage pupils to run and jump. Playgrounds were maintained to be ready for use.
Their pupils at grades 4-6 had more school hours for physical activities and recreation. The project would continue for three years so that officials could follow up the pupils' development.
Sanit Yaemkesorn, a director of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, said the project could be expanded to cover community dwellers to promote public health in general.