How school uniforms might be negatively impacting kids' health

In recent years, there has been a concerning trend of reduced physical activity among school children. Sedentary lifestyles, driven by increased screen time and academic pressures, contribute to this decline. This lack of physical activity poses significant health risks, including obesity, cardiovascular issues, and mental health challenges. Urgent action is needed to prioritize physical education and create environments that encourage and enable regular physical activity among school-aged children.

Cambridge University study

New research suggests that school uniform requirements may inhibit young people, particularly primary school-aged girls, from engaging in physical activity.

The University of Cambridge study analyzed data from over a million five- to seventeen-year-olds around the world. It discovered that in nations where most schools mandate pupils to wear uniforms, fewer young people fulfil the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendation of 60 minutes of physical exercise each day.

The findings are reported in the Journal of Sport and Health Science.

The authors suggest that this could be explained by the fact that younger children get more incidental exercise throughout the school day than older students; for example, through running, climbing, and various other forms of active play at break and lunchtime. There is already evidence that girls feel less comfortable participating in active play if they are wearing certain types of clothing, such as skirts or dresses.

The study was led by Dr Mairead Ryan, a researcher at the Faculty of Education and MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge.

"Schools often prefer to use uniforms for various reasons," Ryan said. "We are not trying to suggest a blanket ban on them but to present new evidence to support decision-making. School communities could consider design, and whether specific characteristics of a uniform might either encourage or restrict any opportunities for physical activity across the day."

WHO recommends physical activity in kids to prevent obesity

The WHO recommends that young people get an average of 60 minutes of at least moderate-intensity physical activity per day during the week.

The study confirms previous observations that most children and adolescents are not meeting this recommendation, especially girls. The difference in the percentage of boys and girls meeting physical activity guidelines across all countries was, on average, 7.6 percentage points. Existing evidence suggests that uniforms could be a factor.

Children often get their exercise away from PE and sports lessons, however. "Activities like walking or cycling to school, break time games, and after-school outdoor play can all help young people incorporate physical activity into their daily routines," Ryan said. "That's why we are interested in the extent to which various elements of young people's environments, including what they wear, encourage such behaviours."

Nearly 1.1 million children were studied

The study analysed existing data on the physical activity levels of nearly 1.1 million young people aged five to 17 in 135 countries and combined this with newly collected data on how common the use of school uniforms is in these countries.

In over 75% of the countries surveyed, a majority of schools required their students to wear uniforms. The study found that in these countries, physical activity participation was lower. The median proportion of all students meeting the WHO recommendations in countries where uniform-wearing was the norm was 16%; this rose to 19.5% in countries where uniforms were less common.


There was a consistent gender gap between boys' and girls' physical activity levels, with boys 1.5 times more likely to meet WHO recommendations across all ages. However, the gap widened from 5.5 percentage points at primary school level in non-uniform countries to a 9.8 percentage point difference in countries where uniforms were required in most schools.

The finding appears to match evidence from other studies suggesting that girls are more self-conscious about engaging in physical activity when wearing uniforms in which they do not feel comfortable. "Girls might feel less confident about doing things like cartwheels and tumbles in the playground, or riding a bike on a windy day, if they are wearing a skirt or dress," said senior author Dr Esther van Sluijs, MRC Investigator. "Social norms and expectations tend to influence what they feel they can do in these clothes. Unfortunately, when it comes to promoting physical health, that's a problem."

Childhood obesity poses a significant health risk worldwide

Factors contributing to this epidemic include sedentary lifestyles, increased consumption of processed foods high in sugar and fat, and reduced physical activity. The consequences of childhood obesity are severe, leading to various health issues such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, obesity in childhood often persists into adulthood, exacerbating long-term health risks.

The authors of the study argue that there is now enough evidence to warrant further investigation into whether there is a causal relationship between school uniforms and lower activity levels. They also highlight the importance of regular physical activity for all young people, regardless of their gender.

"Regular physical activity helps support multiple physical, mental, and well-being needs, as well as academic outcomes," Ryan said. "We now need more information to build on these findings, considering factors like how long students wear their uniforms for after school, whether this varies depending on their background, and how broader gendered clothing norms may impact their activity."

(With inputs from ANI)