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In Chile, about 50% of children suffer from overweight or obesity, according to the nutritional map developed annually by the National Council of School Aid and Scholarships (Junaeb ). "The results are also very different, with areas like Arica, where levels of overweight and obesity are 50% lower than in the rest of the country, or Coyhaique, where these levels are skyrocketing," said Jaime Toh, director of Junaeb.
Concerned about this reality, the institution implemented the Counterweight Plan in 2016, which provides for 50 measures to combat obesity. One of them is to give a smart bracelet to students so that they measure their physical activity. "The beneficiaries are 130,000 students each year, those who complete the basic course in public and private funded institutions, and who are the same as those who receive the free computer," Toh said.
However, the measure had been underutilized: no There was an effective way to collect information. Moreover, its effective use depends on the personal initiative of each teacher.
That's why a digital platform was launched yesterday to encourage students to use this bracelet, through games.
Gabriel Inostroza, professor of physical education At the San Constantino School in La Reina, he is one of those who wore bracelets with his students. "If there is no follow-up on the part of the teacher, it uses it as a simple clock, it is not constant and the objectives do not They are not reached, which is why it is important for the teacher to follow up and set measurable goals, daily and weekly, "he says.
Precise Information
The New Digital Platform http://pulsera.junaeb.cl seeks to involve children in the use of smart bracelet.
"It is a pioneer worldwide., Since we do not have a register of a country that gives children their bracelets as mbadively as in Chile, two objectives are: to encourage their use by children and, on the other hand, create an effective way to gather information from the state and, on that basis, to focus our programs and initiatives, "Toh explains.
To use it, children must register on the portal with their email address, date of birth, weight, height and location where it is tudian The portal encourages challenges, including l & # 39; The number of daily steps or the answer to quizzes on a healthy diet. "How many glbades of water a day are recommended?", For example.
Bracelets count steps, distance traveled, calories burned, heartbeats and determine the type of physical activity that the child exercises from that type of movement that he does. For example, you can differentiate between playing tennis, football or running. In addition, it determines the hours of sleep. The collected information is synchronized with the PC via the USB port.
"The platform presents a childish aesthetic, because the challenges are presented as a game in which they gain energy for each result obtained." They can exchange (virtual) items, such as hats or slippers, to dress up the avatar they've created, "Toh explains.
The platform can extract statistics by course, school, community or region, teachers, directors or mayors can encourage the acquisition of skills such as, for example, is the school that runs more kilometers in a municipality.
Only children who have received a bracelet this year can use it on this platform, because the previous ones do not have the synchronization software.
"I think this is an excellent initiative to promote physical activity In this type of habits, we must educate and consolidate these when they are children, because it is easier to them. adapt to everyday life, so we do not have to fight with adults very hard to change the way of life.Having a bracelet and a platform is essential, as this provides an objective measure of the l & # 39; the activity they actually perform, "says Sandra Mahecha, director of Promocin of Actividad Fsica of Clnica MEDS.
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