74% Of Kids Not Active Enough

A government study has concluded that a staggering 72% of children don’t participate in the recommended hour of daily activity outside school.

The survey involved more than 260,000 people in England, and the findings also revealed that 45% of youngsters watched TV or played video games in the morning before the start of the school day. Only 1 in 5 children took part in activity after the evening meal.

Invariably the habits we form as children will continue through to our adulthood, and so this latest poll suggests the UK’s obesity problem is only going to proliferate. This worrying trend, however, is entirely preventable. Children that enjoy a lifestyle of nutritious food combined with a high level of activity tend to become lean and healthy adults, with reduced risk of developing diabetes, cancer and other chronic diseases.

My personal opinion is that structured exercise should not be introduced to children under the age of fifteen as it doesn’t tend to engage youngsters, which may result in an aversion to working out in later life. An abundance of outside play and sport, I believe, are the physical activities which should be adopted by our children and encouraged by us.

If we are to lower obesity rates, society needs to teach children how to rediscover the joys of running around like lunatics and headless chickens, as opposed to stationary zombies watching the goggle box or playing “tennis” on the Wii.

By: THEO WOOD UK personal trainer

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Former pro sportsman Theo Wood has become one of the most respected and innovative personal trainers in the UK. To read all of Theo Wood's cutting edge theories, and to get free access to a multitude of essential tips on diet and exercise, visit his fitness website at www.theowood.net THEO WOOD Personal Fitness Training