New government figures released yesterday showed that 22.9% of children aged 4-5 and 31.6% of those aged 10-11 are obese. The fact that this news went all but unreported is testament to how commonplace such announcements seem to have become.
Clearly this is a complex issue with no simple solutions. Yet one step in reducing childhood obesity must be an increase in the level of physical activity.
CAARE feels that the most important step is inspiring young people and that it is only well qualified teachers that will be able to do this. At the moment, 40% of primary school teachers have 6 hours or less training in physical education. There is no way we can hope to encourage a generation of children to be physically active if they are being taught by teachers who have not received the proper training.
All the government’s initiatives to offer more opportunities to children to participate in sport will be of no use if children have no desire to take advantage of them.
