Helping UK Children Become More Active and Healthy
A new team of specially trained coaches are being deployed to help children become more active – setting them on the path to a healthier future.
The new Active Lifestyle Coaches are people who the children know well, but are specially trained and come from a range of backgrounds. They may be teaching assistants or parents, and will help motivate the children to do at least one extra hour of physical activity per week.
In addition to school PE, the programme offers children the opportunity to take part in fun alternative activities such as break dancing, cheerleading, martial fitness, yoga or free running. It is expected that 20,000 children from the ages of four to five, and 10 to 11 will take part in the programme, which will see an active lifestyle coach working in 1,100 schools. The programme leaders will make sure these children do at least one extra hour of physical activity per week.
Pupils who don’t get as much exercise as they need are at risk of developing serious illnesses like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers in later life. Being active also helps strengthen bones, improves coordination and helps improve self-esteem and confidence.
Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said:
“It’s vital that we help every child to get a decent amount of exercise if they are to avoid serious health problems. By being physically active now through play, games and sport, means children are far more likely to go on to be active, healthy adults.
“Although childhood obesity is levelling off, the Government will do everything it can to support those children most at risk. Active Lifestyle Coaches will help these children find a fun way onto the right track.”
Visiting Monega Primary School in the London Borough of Newham
today to see four and five year olds taking part in the Youth Sport Trust’s ‘Start to Play’ programme, Children’s Minister Dawn Primarolo said:
“School sport has been transformed in recent years – with nine out of ten children now taking part in at least two hours of PE a week. We are committed to building on this to help children get five hours of PE and sport, in school and in the community. But we know that it’s not always easy to motivate children to do exercise.
“The new Active Lifestyle programme will help schools target children that are less physically active through fun, innovative and engaging activities. This will help children to develop confidence in their abilities and establish a healthier lifestyle throughout childhood that will last into adulthood.”
The Government is also publishing today ‘Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: Two Years On’,a new report highlighting the impact of the cross-government obesity strategy on individuals and communities.
Key findings show that:
· shoppers are looking for healthier options in the supermarket;
· families are joining in with Change4Life;
· children are eating healthier meals at school;
· communities are becoming Healthy Towns; and
· health professionals are supporting patients who want to lose weight.
The Government is committed to reducing, by 2020, the proportion of overweight and obese children to the levels in 2000.The latest evidence shows that the rapid rise in childhood obesity is levelling off – thanks to the hard work of families, schools, businesses and the NHS across England, supported by the Government.
Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:
“Everyone has a role to play in tackling obesity, and the strategy has been crucial in bringing everyone together. It’s about creating an environment that promotes healthy lifestyles and providing more opportunities for people to be active. Change4Life is a key part of this, and is helping people change their behaviour so that they can eat well, move more and live longer.
“Looking forward, we’re going to broaden our focus to adult obesity and continue to build on our partnerships with charities, industry and across Government to work together to achieve our shared ambition – supporting everyone to maintain a healthy weight and live healthier lives.”
The report says:
- A child’s first years are crucial for developing healthy behaviours and enabling young children to grow-up a healthy weight. Families, carers and health professionals are working with families to give them clear, easy-to-follow guidelines about eating and active play for under-fives. The Healthy Child Programme, Start4Life and Change4Life will continue this work in the coming year.
- Change4Life has been highly successful in giving families with school-age children helpful messages on eating well and being more active. Change4Life has now broadened out to adults.
- Overweight adults are being given the information, advice and support they need to achieve a healthy weight – whether that is through referral to a weight management service or a better understanding of the impact of their BMI on their health.
- The new Pupil Guarantee will entitle all children to attend a school that encourages their health, including healthy food and an offer of five hours of physical activity inside or outside the school day. Even more nutritious Free School Meals will be provided.
- Healthier food choices are becoming more readily available thanks to the efforts of manufacturers, caterers and retailers. Calorie labelling on menus, healthier versions of favourite foods and a greater selection of fruit and vegetables in local corner shops all contribute to this progress. During the next year, the Government is looking for progress from caterers, a continued commitment to the Food Standard’s Agency’s saturated fat and energy work, and for links to be made between healthy and sustainable food.
- Healthy Towns are creating whole communities geared up to make physical activity accessible. Schemes like Free Swimming and Bike4Life are making it easier for families to walk, cycle and play together.
- There are now 1,100 upgraded playgrounds across England as part of the £235 million programme to improve play areas.
Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust said:
“Creating more and better opportunities for all young people to take part in sporting and physical activity continues to be at the centre of the work of the Youth Sport Trust. We know sport does not naturally appeal to some children which is why, through developments such as Active Lifestyles, we continually strive to offer every young person the opportunity to be inspired through physical activity.”
Topics: 2010, active, break dancing, Britain, cheerleading, children, confidence, dept of health, free running, Governance, government, Great Britain, health care, Health Care, healthy, healthy choices, healthy eating habits, healthy lifestyle, lifestyle, lose the weight, martial fitness, moniter, monitor, news, NHS, self esteem, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, wellbeing, yoga
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