A child's dilemma: choosing between academic pressure and physical activity.

Is Taiwan Failing Its Youth? The Alarming Decline in Physical Activity

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 5 min read.

"A comprehensive look at the 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card reveals a concerning trend in the physical health of Taiwanese children and youth."

Recent surveys in Taiwan paint a troubling picture: a significant portion of children and youth are not engaging in enough physical activity. This lack of activity can lead to severe health and economic problems later in life, creating a burden on individuals and society. Recognizing this urgent issue, the Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) Report Card Team was established in 2017.

The team's mission was to conduct a thorough, evidence-based evaluation of physical activity-related indicators among children and youth. Their work culminated in the 2018 Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) Report Card, which assesses nine key indicators to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of youth physical health.

This article summarizes the findings of the 2018 Report Card, shedding light on the areas where Taiwan is succeeding and, more importantly, where it is falling short in promoting physical activity among its youngest citizens. By understanding these results, we can begin to address the challenges and work towards a healthier future for Taiwanese children and youth.

Key Indicators and Their Grades

A child's dilemma: choosing between academic pressure and physical activity.

The 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card, utilizing the framework provided by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, evaluated nine core indicators crucial to understanding the physical activity landscape of children and youth. These indicators, common across the Global Matrix 3.0, offer a standardized way to compare Taiwan's performance with other nations.

The assessment process involved a thorough review of available data from 2010 to 2018. A panel of experts analyzed published journal articles, government reports, grant completion reports, and other relevant sources to assign letter grades to each indicator based on predefined benchmarks. The data relied heavily on national surveys, including the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan, the Census of School Physical Education, and Physical Fitness Test Results from various school levels.

Overall Physical Activity: A concerning "F" grade indicates that only a small percentage of Taiwanese youth meet the recommended physical activity levels. Specifically, only 5.4% of 13- to 15-year-olds and 12.1% of 16- to 18-year-olds accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.
Organized Sport Participation: A "D-" grade reveals low involvement in sports teams and clubs within schools. Participation rates range from 20% to 28% among different age groups.
Active Transportation: A "C-" grade suggests moderate engagement in active commuting. Around 33-46% of 7- to 18-year-olds reported walking or biking to school on most days.
Sedentary Behaviors: A "C-" grade indicates high levels of sedentary behavior, with many youth spending excessive time studying or using the internet.
Physical Fitness: A "B-" grade suggests a reasonable level of physical fitness, but with a concerning trend of deterioration over the past 20 years.
School: A "B+" grade reflects the mandatory physical education classes and the availability of facilities. Most schools follow the two physical education classes per week.
Community and Environment: A "B+" grade points to a generally positive perception of exercise facilities in neighborhoods.
Government: A "B+" grade indicates a strong commitment to improving infrastructure and promoting physical activity through various initiatives and increased budgetary support.

While some indicators show relative strengths, the overall picture reveals a need for significant improvement in promoting physical activity among Taiwanese children and youth. The concerning trends in overall physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and physical fitness highlight the urgency of addressing these issues.

Looking Ahead: Addressing the Challenges

The 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card serves as a critical wake-up call. Despite government and school efforts, physical activity levels remain low, while sedentary behaviors remain high. The traditional emphasis on academic excellence appears to overshadow the importance of physical well-being. The missing link may be the influence of family and peers, highlighting the need for interventions that engage these key social circles. Future research should focus on this critical issue to pave the way for more effective strategies to promote a healthier, more active lifestyle for Taiwanese children and youth.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1123/jpah.2018-0555, Alternate LINK

Title: Results From Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)’S 2018 Report Card On Physical Activity For Children And Youth

Subject: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Journal: Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Publisher: Human Kinetics

Authors: Chen-Kang Chang, Ching-Lin Wu

Published: 2018-01-02

Everything You Need To Know

What indicators were assessed in the 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card on Physical Activity, and how was the assessment conducted?

The 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card on Physical Activity assessed nine key indicators, including Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport Participation, Active Transportation, Sedentary Behaviors, Physical Fitness, School, Community and Environment, and Government support. These indicators were graded based on data from 2010 to 2018, using national surveys and expert analysis, and aligned with the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance framework.

What does the 'F' grade for Overall Physical Activity in the 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card signify for the health of Taiwanese youth?

The grade of 'F' for Overall Physical Activity in the 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card indicates that a very small percentage of Taiwanese youth meet recommended physical activity levels. Specifically, only 5.4% of 13- to 15-year-olds and 12.1% of 16- to 18-year-olds achieve at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, suggesting a significant public health concern.

What do the 'B+' grades for School and Government in the 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card suggest about the resources available for youth physical activity, and why isn't that reflected in the Overall Physical Activity grade?

The 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card gave a 'B+' to both School and Government indicators. This shows mandatory physical education classes and available facilities contribute positively, as does strong government commitment to infrastructure and initiatives promoting physical activity. However, these efforts don't fully translate into improved Overall Physical Activity, indicating a gap between resources and actual youth engagement.

What specific information or details are missing from the 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card that would help to better address the low physical activity levels among Taiwanese youth?

While the 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card highlights the need to increase physical activity among youth, it doesn't deeply explore the specific types of interventions that might be most effective. Tailoring programs to address sedentary behaviors, leveraging the existing school and community infrastructure more effectively, and understanding the cultural emphasis on academic achievement could be crucial components of future strategies.

How might Taiwan's cultural emphasis on academic achievement be impacting the physical activity levels of its youth, as suggested by the 2018 Chinese Taipei Report Card?

The traditional emphasis on academic excellence in Taiwan may inadvertently overshadow the importance of physical well-being. This cultural value might contribute to increased Sedentary Behaviors as students prioritize studying over physical activity. Overcoming this requires a shift in mindset, where physical activity is recognized as equally important for overall development and academic performance, supported by family and peer influence.