Dr. Sadriya Al-Kohji, Senior Consultant Community Medicine and Assistant Director of Medicine for Child and Adolescent Health at PHCC, announced the launch of the 2024 Physical Activity Survey for children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years by the Child and Adolescent Health Department at PHCC. This is the second time the survey has been conducted, as the corporation now launches this survey annually to assess the level of physical activity among children and adolescents and the types of activities they engage in. Physically active children enjoy better mental health, improved concentration, and higher intelligence, which positively impacts their academic performance. Additionally, they benefit from balanced psychological well-being, personality development, and the acquisition of essential life skills.

Dr. Al-Kohji noted that data from the World Health Organization’s National School Survey in Qatar (2015-2016) showed that children aged 12 to 18 years engage in insufficient physical activity. Additionally, a study on physical activity during school hours for children aged 5 to 9 years found that children spent most of their school time in sedentary activities. While Qatar has national physical activity guidelines, there has not been a routine or standardized survey of physical activity by age until now. This is what we have implemented at PHCC to ensure we provide the most suitable services for this age group and meet the national physical activity recommendations in Qatar.

In 2023, we began conducting a survey to understand children’s activity levels and the types of activities they engage in, and we are currently analyzing over 30,000 responses received.

Dr. Al-Kohji added that “to create the most suitable opportunities for achieving the recommended levels of physical activity, we need parents’ support to complete this annual survey when it is sent via SMS. Any parent with a child or adolescent aged 5 to 18 years registered at PHCC in 2024 will receive an SMS from PHCC containing a link to the physical activity survey between October 1 and early December. It is important to cooperate in completing the survey for children and adolescents. If your child is between 12 and 18 years old, please encourage them to complete the form independently.”

She concluded by stating that active parental participation in responding to the physical activity survey for their children helps create an encouraging and supportive environment for physical activity at home and school. Encouraging physical activity in children is vital for improving their overall health and enhancing their holistic development. By providing the necessary support and motivation, parents and educators can help build a healthy, active lifestyle for children that lasts throughout their lives.