Following last year’s hard-hitting “No Junk Food” survey, the Early Childhood Association (ECA-APER), in collaboration with the Podar Institute of Education, has uncovered another urgent concern—this time, focusing on the alarming lack of physical activity among Indian children. Over a period of three months, responses from over 10,000 parents across four major cities—Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Kolkata—were collected. The findings paint a deeply troubling picture of modern childhood.
 
The survey revealed that 67 per cent of children spend less than an hour outdoors each day, while a staggering 28 per cent do not engage in any physical activity or outdoor play at all. Even more concerning, nearly half (45 per cent) of the children surveyed were reported to be overweight or significantly above average weight for their age.

Fitness activity at Bombay Scottish School in Mahim. Pics/By Special Arrangement