Feb

4

Tackling obesity is child’s play for NHS - Essex Echo(Childhood Obesity News)

Filed Under Childhood Obesity News | Leave a Comment

A GROUNDBREAKING scheme is aiming to defuse the ticking timebomb of childhood obesity by getting more children across south Essex up and active during their schoolday. As figures show more than a quarter of UK children are now overweight, health chiefs believe the key to keeping youngsters slim and fit is to build more modern and exciting play equipment in schools to encourage them to work up a sweat. All 161 schools across the South West Essex area, which covers Basildon, Billericay, Wickford and Thurrock, will receive funding to build their own playground, which features climbing walls, stage areas, tyre swings and assault course style equipment. The project began in October and already 78 schools across the region have had equipment installed, with many more on the waiting list. Weâre just waiting for training from the scheme advisers which is needed so the children know how to use the equipment properly, and then theyâll all be out there using it every breaktime. If pupils continue to be able to choose what they do at break then I doubt if the obese will put a climbing wall and assault course at the top of their list. Read Childhood Obesity

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