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The 'lying-down generation' and demographic disaster
The increase in device-dependent play and the parallel decrease in physical activity among children could nullify the country's expectations of a demographic bonus if collective action is not taken today to stamp out sedentary behavior.
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Children wear masks as they participate in traditional games on Aug. 17, 2020 as part of a 75th Independence Day celebration during COVID-19 in Leuwinanggung, Depok, West Java. (JP/P.J.Leo)
F
or many years, people who spend a lot of time lying down have been referred to as generasi rebahan, or the “lying-down generation”. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic struck three years ago, the phrase "lying down" has come to mean a lack of mobility among the younger generation.
Due to the social distancing enforced to prevent the spread of COVID-19, people chose to do everything while lying down. As a consequence of the restrictions, in-person activities were substituted with internet activities.
When tested alongside 57 other nations in 2022, the level of physical activity among Indonesian children and teenagers obtained the extremely poor grade of F (AHKI, 2022). Given that the pandemic affected the whole world, it cannot justify the low grade.
In fact, Indonesian children frequently engage in sedentary behavior as one of their main pastimes, even without a pandemic. If we do nothing to change our sedentary behavior, Indonesia will most likely have a large, physically unfit population of working age (15–64 years) in the future. The expected benefits of the demographic bonus are therefore in jeopardy.
Long-term health is harmed by a lack of physical activity. People who don't exercise regularly face serious health risks from diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and heart attacks (Health Ministry, 2023).
According to the “Obesity Fact Sheet” published in 2018 by the Health Ministry, 10.8 percent of Indonesian children aged 5-12 are obese and 18.8 percent are overweight. The same study discovered that 41 million toddlers worldwide are overweight or obese.
Diabetes and other chronic disorders are more likely in young children who are obese. Of course, parents and other adults are entirely responsible for a toddler suffering obesity.
