Childhood obesity should be 'prevented' through outdoor play
08/12/2009 Preventing children from becoming overweight through activities like outdoor play is the best way to tackle obesity, according to the National Obesity Forum (NOF).
Research was recently revealed which suggested that obesity was caused by a faulty gene, rather than a bad diet or lack of exercise.
However, the chairman of the NOF, Dr David Haslam, said that even if this proves to be true it should not change the way society deals with obesity.
Dr Haslam said: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If we can do something about the prevention of obesity- and we know that if you work hard enough on the environment and food labelling and making physical activity easier we know that can improve obesity."
He added that steps needed to be taken to deal with members of the population that are already obese.
Figures from the NHS reveal that 17 per cent of boys and 16 per cent of girls in the UK aged two to 15 were considered to be obese in 2007.
Purchasing a trampoline is one way to encourage children to get outdoors and get active. It is a sociable experience for kids, as unlike team games it does not leave those who are not particularly good at sports feeling left out.
Research was recently revealed which suggested that obesity was caused by a faulty gene, rather than a bad diet or lack of exercise.
However, the chairman of the NOF, Dr David Haslam, said that even if this proves to be true it should not change the way society deals with obesity.
Dr Haslam said: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If we can do something about the prevention of obesity- and we know that if you work hard enough on the environment and food labelling and making physical activity easier we know that can improve obesity."
He added that steps needed to be taken to deal with members of the population that are already obese.
Figures from the NHS reveal that 17 per cent of boys and 16 per cent of girls in the UK aged two to 15 were considered to be obese in 2007.
Purchasing a trampoline is one way to encourage children to get outdoors and get active. It is a sociable experience for kids, as unlike team games it does not leave those who are not particularly good at sports feeling left out.
