Contact
E-Mail: rebirth.active.school(at)mh-hannover.de
Denise Homeyer
Hannover Medical School
Insitute of Sports Medicine
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1
30625 Hannover
Tel. 0511 532 9114
Lena Grams
Hannover Medical School
Insitute of Sports Medicine
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1
30625 Hannover
Tel. 01761 532 4845
Prof. Dr. med. Anette Melk
Hannover Medical School
Zentrum Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin
Päd. Leber-, Nieren- und Stoffwechselerkrankungen
Tel. 0511 532 9794
REBIRTH active school

An exercise programme to promote children’s health
Children and young people don’t get enough daily exercise – and the situation is getting worse year by year. Often, families and schools are insufficiently aware of the negative impact of this on children’s physical and mental development. Whereas 50% of pre-schoolers have enough physical activity, this proportion declines dramatically – to a mere 10% – into adolescence. There is an urgent need for action here. It’s especially important to identify children whose health is seriously at risk, and motivate them to exercise.
Telomeres (the end-sequences of chromosomes) are an indicator of the cells’ regenerative potential. There is a close link between telomere length and healthy lifestyle: active sports enthusiasts have longer telomeres. Conversely, the length of telomeres may be reduced by negative factors. In a French study involving almost 800 children, those who are overweight and inactive already have markedly shorter telomeres. Our own data show that sporting activity tailored to one’s individual performance has a positive influence on telomere length.
Exercise programme
- 60 minutes of targeted physical activity (in line with the WHO recommendation)
- Individually tailored
- Incorporated into, and designed to complement, lessons
- Supervised by sports scientists and physicians at Hannover Medical School (MHH)
Aims
- Achievement of age-appropriate physical development
- VImproving health
- Reducing risk factors
- Improving academic performance
- Enhancing quality of life
- Integrating exercise into everyday school life to make it a lasting habit
Examinations
Physical examination:
- Anthropometry
- Dental/gum status
Medical history and questionnaire:
- Psychosocial health
- Health-related behaviour
- Dental health
- Susceptibility to allergies
- Cardiovascular family history
- Medication
- Saliva/urine/blood
Media Coverage in in the German "Focus"