Children need to be encouraged to exercise more
Children are still not getting the recommended 60 minutes active minutes per day new research reveals.
The findings show that children are averaging just over half the recommended daily amount.
The small-scale study conducted by the University of Worcester's Insititute of Sport Exercise Science backs up previous data that shows only 33 per cent of boys and 21 per cent of girls aged four to 15 actually get the recommended 60 active minutes per day.
Parents are also overestimating just how much physical activity their children are getting. Change4Life shows that parents believe their children average 271 minutes per day - more than eight times the amount they are actually doing.
As part of the study, 40 children aged nine and ten years from four primary schools across the UK were given an accelerometer to wear for two weeks. The survey revealed that they were getting on average just 33 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per day, just over half the recommended amount.
Anne Milton, Public Health Minister, comments on the data: "If we are going to turn around the life chances of our children it's important parents understand why being the right weight matters so much for their children. Children who are overweight could face serious Health problems later in life. These problems impact hugely on a person's quality of life.
"But it isn't just about eating better, children should also be getting their hours' worth of being active everyday."
The study also revealed that kids are spending the most amount of time participating in sedentary activities, such as watching TV - an average of 67 minutes per day, playing seated computer games takes up 21 minutes per day and surfing the internets distracts them for a further 17 minutes each day.
To help inspire kids, parents and carers with lots of ideas, offers and competitions to get the family up and about this summer - without breaking the bank - Change4Life will launch a six week long new campaign, ‘The Really Big Summer Adventure’ from mid-July.
Anne continues: "We will soon launch our new Change4Life campaign, inspiring kids and their families to set off on a 'Really Big Summer Adventure' - with a great range of simple and fun ideas to get kids active, as well as lots of competitions and offers to help make it easier for families over the summer holidays.
"And we will continue with the National Child Measurement Programme in schools to help families know if their children are overweight or obese."
Paul Sacher, co-founder and Chief Research Officer at MEND, says: “Being active is vital if our children are to be fit and healthy for life. Physical activity doesn’t have to be a chore or break the bank, but can be simple things like going for a walk or playing games in the park. At the outset of National Childhood Obesity Week, we’re encouraging families to try new activities and get active as a family.”
Femalefirst Taryn Davies
National Childhood Obesity Week runs from July 4-10