Obesity rates among children are rising along with an increase in sedentary lifestyles, according to a report published this week by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The report, "Couch kids: the growing epidemic", which launched the foundation's "Get kids on the go" campaign, shows that about one third of boys and 38 per cent of girls aged two to seven are not doing enough exercise. The BHF says that the report has been produced because of concern that fewer active children will result in more premature deaths from coronary heart disease later in life.
Children are also eating less fresh fruit and vegetables than ever before, according to the "National Diet and Nutrition Survey of 4-18 year olds" published by the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency on June 1. The survey found that one child in five had not eaten a single piece of fruit in the week in which the study was carried out and that, on average, children eat less than half the recommended daily amount of five portions of fruit and vegetables.