The European report "Bulgaria - Health Profile for the Country 2017" reflects statistics on the obesity and immobilization of young people in the country. Although adult obesity levels are below the EU average, they have increased by 25% since 2008, with statistics showing that among young people they have risen by two-thirds in the 2005-2006 and 2013- 2014 and have reached 20%. Also, more than half of Bulgarian pupils in 1-12 grades (51%) are extremely immobilized, one of the reasons being rare visits to physical education classes and lack of interest in additional sport outside compulsory schooling. Separately, every third grader in Bulgaria has a problem with extra pounds, although in most cases it is the parents who refuse to accept that their child needs change and help, not to mention a strict diet and encouragement to exercise sports. More than 50% of the children who crossed the classrooms for the first time this year in Bulgaria are already having vertebral distortion. Only 3% of Bulgarian teenagers say they sometimes go to the gym because they want to look good and build up muscle mass.However, a positive aspect is that a higher percentage of girls and boys at 15 years of age in Bulgaria report regular physical activity than in other EU countries, although less than 25% report moderate exercise intensive physical activity on a daily basis.This study aims to analyze, on the basis of an authoritative survey, the opinions and the vision of active training parents as to whether their children should be attending fitness training. The survey was conducted within 2 months through an online survey of 21 questions, with a total of 187 active sporting parents. Questions concern both the sporting aspects, the healthy diet and the overall condition of the child, through the eyes of his/her parents.
Physical activity: Exploring the barriers and facilitators for the engagement of young people in residential care in Ireland
