Childhood Obesity News

Physical activity programmes for preschoolers are a good thing...but they may not be enough to combat obesity as children get older. A new study published in the British Medical Journal yesterday found that a 30 minute exercise programme three times per week had little effect on the weight of 545 pre-school children. The report authors suggested that a combination of exercise and improved diets may be the only solution to the growing childhood obesity crisis. Exercise programmes have many benefits for children, but other lifestyle factors like junk food consumption and sedentary behaviour in the home are also crucially important issues.

Too Much TV: It Doesn’t Add Up!

A report commissioned by the Department of Education and Science in Ireland has found that children who have a TV in their bedroom perform worse in standard maths tests. Our research has found that a worryingly high percentage of Irish children have a TV set in their bedroom. This latest study provides yet another reason to limit children’s screen time. We already know that excessive TV watching is bad for health and performance. 

You can see these stories in more detail on our lifestyle news page