Teens—at least teens in Canada—aren’t spending nearly the time outdoors that their parents did. In fact, youth between the ages of 12 and 17 spend an average of less than eight hours a week engaged in outdoor activities—about half of the 17.5 hours their parents did.

It’s just the latest stat that causes health-minded researchers to shake their heads in sorrow. Teens are becoming increasingly sedentary, which naturally can lead to obesity and other health problems—not to mention plain laziness.

“Regular physical activity, including time spent being active outdoors, can help teens reduce the risk of chronic disease, make friends, improve self-esteem, confidence and mental health, and improve concentration and their grades,” says Elio Antunes, president of ParticipACTION, a Canadian non-profit. “Unfortunately, only 5 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds are getting the 60 minutes of heart-pumping movement they need each day.” (BusinessWire)