Large numbers of children do not do enough exercise to keep themselves healthy and so face poor health as adults, according to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy report "Fit for the Future - How healthy and active are our children?"
The findings indicate that about 30 percent of children are performing insufficient physical activity and about the same proportion of UK children are obese or overweight. Parents may have a poor idea both of how much activity their children are doing and how much they should be doing to be healthy.
Taking too little exercise in childhood could contribute to increased levels of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke in later life. Because of lack of knowledge about these risks and the levels of activity needed, children may be being put at risk of developing health problems later in life.
The National Child Measurement Programme shows that of children starting school education 10% are obese, with this increasing to over 18% when they reach secondary school. Physiotherapists can give advice on how to make the best of opportunities for physical activity and take up government opportunities.
See "More than a third of UK children could face an unfit future" for more details. |
