Unless urgent action is taken to increase physical activity this generation of children will face poorer health, lower happiness and reduced life chances over the next decade and beyond.

These are the concerning findings from the Youth Sport Trust Class of 2035 Report, produced in partnership with research agency, Savanta. It uses artificial intelligence modelling and insights from children’s polling to project the consequences of current inactivity trends for the children of the Class of 2035.

Without urgent action to increase children's physical activity levels, the annual direct and indirect costs of inactivity are set to soar over the next decade. If current trends continue 48 per cent of children will spend three hours or more on screens for entertainment each day, up from 34 per cent in 2025.

Thirty four per cent will fail to be active for even 30 minutes a day, well short of the UK’s Chief Medical Officers’ guidance of 60 active minutes.

Obesity and mental health disorders are projected to increase significantly, with more than 180,000 children (24 per cent) classified as clinically obese by 2035.

Annual type 2 diabetes diagnoses in children will double, reaching 500 new cases each year. Schools will see declining attendance, engagement, and belonging among the least active pupils.

Ali Oliver MBE, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “The findings in this third report leave us in no doubt things can and will get worse for children, but also for the country unless we accept children must move, play and be active every day for normal physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth.

“By 2035, without action to increase physical activity levels and improve access to the many benefits associated with active childhoods, we will have delivered a generation with poorer health, lower happiness, lower attainment and as a result, lower life chances than generations prior - a legacy of physical and mental neglect. Young people consistently tell us they want to move more, so let’s listen to them and not limit them.”

In response to the findings, the Youth Sport Trust has launched the Sport Changes Lives Commission, chaired by Dr Paula Franklin. The Commission brings together leading experts from healthcare, child development, and public health who share the charity’s concern about the impact of inactivity on young people. Commissioners will review the report’s evidence, share insights, and publish recommendations in early 2026 for addressing and reversing these trends.

You can read the full report here.

HCM will be discussing Generation Alpha in greater depth in issue 11.