Sport 'not always effective’ when tackling childhood obesity

Child health expert suggests a focus on sport is not necessarily encouraging children to become more active.

Dr Andrew Daly-Smith, University of Bradford worked with 50 schools in Bradford to identify the reasons for pupils' inactivity and rates of obesity. Identifying that sport can be seen as a "barrier" to moving more by children who do not enjoy taking part.

Dr Daly-Smith told the BBC that he wanted to see more emphasis on general lifestyle changes rather than children being encouraged to join sports clubs. He also stated headteachers had told him that team sports were not always effective in helping pupils to enjoy exercise.

 “While establishing healthy nutrition in schools is a priority to lower levels of obesity, there is also a need for schools to help children move more," said Dr Daly-Smith.

 “Sadly, the persistence of governments to focus on sport is turning many children and young people off being physically active.

"It's not about joining a sports club, it's more about ensuring physical movement and good lifestyle choices - like a healthy diet - are built into the school day."

 He suggested alternative ways of getting children active could involve encouraging movement combined with classroom learning, examples included using physical games to teach maths or basing writing on exploration walks.

 Recent data from Bradford Council highlights that one in five children in reception classes are overweight, and one in three primary school leavers.

 Last month the university held their Whole-School Physical Activity conference which highlighted sobering statistics about health inequalities in Bradford with Professor Mark Mon-Williams from the University of Leeds telling attendees that babies born in inner-city neighbourhoods close to Bradford Royal Infirmary were likely to die 10 years sooner than those from rural Wharfedale.

He added: “All the data shows children born into poorer families are 13 times more likely to have poorer health outcomes by the age of 70. 

"It is absolutely imperative we start to support young people and change the systems to enable them to live healthy and prosperous lives."