Environmental factors 'discourage exercising outdoors'
14/06/2010 Despite Brits knowing they should eat healthily and spend time exercising outdoors, too many are filling up on junk food.
Dr Jamie Pearce, co-author of the book Geographies of Obesity, told the Herald that often factors about people's environment and local area make it easier for them to make the unhealthy choice.
"People know they should eat well and take exercise but this can be difficult in practice ...fast food is readily available but there is little local access to healthy food, while often the easiest way to get around is by car," he explained.
Recommendations are for children to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day to help strengthen bones and muscles and prevent excessive weight gain.
The comments came as a study conducted by University College London and published in the Journal of Public Health Nutrition suggests that junk food advertising is contributing to childhood obesity levels.
According to the authors, banning junk food advertising would reduce the number of severely overweight children in Scotland by 14 per cent.
Dr Emmanuel Stamatakis, co-author of the study, said that no advertising which targets children should be allowed.
Dr Jamie Pearce, co-author of the book Geographies of Obesity, told the Herald that often factors about people's environment and local area make it easier for them to make the unhealthy choice.
"People know they should eat well and take exercise but this can be difficult in practice ...fast food is readily available but there is little local access to healthy food, while often the easiest way to get around is by car," he explained.
Recommendations are for children to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day to help strengthen bones and muscles and prevent excessive weight gain.
The comments came as a study conducted by University College London and published in the Journal of Public Health Nutrition suggests that junk food advertising is contributing to childhood obesity levels.
According to the authors, banning junk food advertising would reduce the number of severely overweight children in Scotland by 14 per cent.
Dr Emmanuel Stamatakis, co-author of the study, said that no advertising which targets children should be allowed.
