Sportz Village's 13th Annual Health Survey Reveals Children Fitness Statistics: 2 in 5 Children in India Do Not Have a Healthy BMI
Tuesday, 22 April 2025 ()
· The 13th Annual Health Survey studies data from 1,16,650 children aged 7 to 17, spanning 85 locations across India.· In comparison, children from government schools fared better than private schools in BMI, Lower body strength, Aerobic and Anaerobic capacity & Flexibility.
Sportz Village's 13th Annual Health Survey (AHS) has revealed alarming gaps in the fitness and well-being of school-going children across India. Conducted annually since 2010, the survey aims to analyze and evaluate the health and fitness levels of children in schools across India.
*Sportz Village's 13th Annual Health Survey (AHS)*The 13th edition of the survey, powered by EduSports, assessed 1,16,650 children aged 7 to 17 years across 85 locations, highlighting the urgent need for structured physical education programs in schools.The *EAST REGION* has emerged with the second-best performance showcasing an overall fitness in a total of 56.40% of children, showing notable strengths in Upper body strength (54%), Lower body strength (46%), and Flexibility (77%).The survey highlights that a higher percentage of children from the *NORTH REGION* have shown extremely poor performance, recording the lowest percentages in three out of seven fitness parameters. The region performed the weakest in Lower body strength (35%), Abdominal strength (81%), and Anaerobic capacity (58%), underscoring significant areas for improvement in these key fitness indicators.The performance of children from the *SOUTH REGION* has been a mixed bag. A higher percentage of children have performed well in the parameters of BMI (60.12%), Aerobic capacity (31%), Anaerobic capacity (62%), and Abdominal strength (87%), while showing areas of improvement in Upper body strength and Flexibility.*WEST REGION* has performed the best when compared to all other regions with higher percentage of children performing exceptionally well in the parameters of Upper body strength (58%) Lower body strength (60%), Anaerobic capacity (81%), Abdominal strength (93%), Aerobic capacity (52%) & Flexibility (81%).
*Sportz Village's 13th Annual Health Survey (AHS)*Key findings of the survey denote:
· *2 in 5 children* have an unhealthy BMI.
· *3 in 5 children* lack adequate Lower body strength.
· *1 in 3 children* have insufficient Flexibility.
· *3 in 5 children* do not meet the required Aerobic capacity.
· *1 in 5 children* have inadequate Abdominal or core strength.
· *2 in 5 children* lack sufficient Anaerobic capacity.
· *3 in 5 children* do not have adequate Upper body strength.
· A *higher proportion of girls (62.23%)* maintain a healthy BMI compared to boys (*57.09%*).
· Girls outperformed boys in *Flexibility, Abdominal strength, Anaerobic capacity, and Upper body strength*, whereas boys performed well in the parameters of *Aerobic capacity and Lower body strength
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*AHS 2025 key findings*
Moreover, a higher percentage of children in private schools have better Upper body strength levels (47%), compared to the children from government schools (37%) as well as Abdominal strength levels (87%) compared to the children in government schools (84%). In comparison, a higher percentage of children from government schools have fared better in BMI (61.64%), Lower body strength (48%), Aerobic capacity (37%), Anaerobic capacity (75%) & Flexibility (75%), demonstrating better overall fitness in children from the latter.The survey also highlights the positive correlation between *the frequency of P.E. classes and overall fitness levels*. It found that children who attend *more than two P.E. periods per week* have better BMI levels, upper body strength and flexibility compared to those with fewer P.E. classes, reinforcing the importance of structured sports programs in schools.Saumil Majmudar*, Co-founder, CEO & Managing Director, Sportz Village*, emphasized the *importance of balancing academics and sports*, stating, "Children naturally love to play, yet sports often take a backseat to academics. The 13th AHS findings highlight the urgent need to strike a balance between the two. School leaders must prioritize investments in physical education and sports curricula-not just for the long-term health and well-being of children, but to foster a strong sporting culture that can propel India toward excellence on the global stage."Parminder Gill*, Co-founder & Head of Foundation, Sportz Village*, highlighted the need for *policy support and CSR-backed initiatives*, adding, "The improved fitness levels among government school children is encouraging, with far-reaching benefits. Sports not only enhance academic performance but also strengthen social-emotional skills, foster inclusion, and promote gender equity. To build on this progress, it is essential to implement strong policies and allocate resources that ensure access to high-quality sports programs, supported by corporates, CSR initiatives, philanthropists, and the government."Detailed 13^th Annual Health Survey report can be downloaded here*.*
*About Sportz Village*
Sportz Village is *India's largest school sports organization*, dedicated to making sports an integral part of children's education and development. Established in 2003, Sportz Village aims to improve childrens health and well-being by integrating sports into school curriculums. Whether through EduSports, its pioneering structured *physical education (P.E.) program*, or its #SportForChange development initiatives in government schools, or through *PathwayZ* sports excellence program, Sportz Village is committed to *developing young champions both on and off the field*.Currently, the organization benefits over *300,000 children and youth across 500+ private and public schools in 22 states*. To date, Sportz Village has impacted over *66 lakh children* across India, making it the largest initiative of its kind in the country.
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