Press Release: New Report On Childhood Obesity Says A Mile A Day Keeps Obesity At Bay
UK GOVERNMENT MUST FOCUS ON MORE THAN JUST NUTRITION
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND A BALANCED DIET SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
THE DAILY MILE PLANS TO EXPAND INTO ALL NURSERIES AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE UK BY 2020
A report by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ‘A Fit and Healthy Childhood’ today announced “THE DAILY MILE” as simple and effective part of the UK’s strategy to tackle childhood obesity.
The Department of Health and Public Health England have been criticised for focussing on a calorie reduction scheme to lessen childhood obesity in the UK, however this APPG report reveals that nutrition is only part of the problem.
‘A Fit and Healthy Childhood’ highlights the importance of physical activity, and says obesity prevention strategies will not see success unless they include both physical activity and a balanced diet.
The report commended “THE DAILY MILE” as a simple yet empowering solution to address physical inactivity in children, and called on the Government to support the implementation of this programme to all nurseries and primary schools.
Lead author of the report and former MP for Peterborough, Helen Clark, says:
“We need a national campaign to stop the rot. The excellent ‘Daily Mile’ campaign pioneered in Scotland by Elaine Wyllie shows what can be done. We now need our Government to pick up the physical activity gauntlet – and not to mince words – RUN WITH IT!”
“THE DAILY MILE” involves students heading outside to walk or run around the playground for 15 minutes per day, at a time of the teachers’ choosing. In this time, most children will average a mile or more. With no equipment or set-up time required, the initiative is easy to implement, simple and free! The report credits “THE DAILY MILE” with resulting in “improved concentration in the classroom and better mood and social relationships resulting in a transformational change in the physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing of all participants.”
One of the report’s ten key recommendations calls on the UK “Government to establish a Physical Activity Champions Taskforce whereby promoters of successful schemes (like The Daily Mile) can act as national roving ambassadors, encouraging take up in other institutions and areas.”
The Daily Mile will continue to engage with the Government to explore ways of supporting growth across the UK. Every London Borough has at least one school adopting The Daily Mile and by 2020 the Foundation hopes to have every nursery, primary school and workplace doing at least 15 minutes of extra activity per day.
The Daily Mile Team are committed to providing children with a healthy, happy foundation to keep them fit for life and learning. The Foundation is currently recruiting for a Marketing Communications Assistant. If you’d like to help spread the initiative throughout the UK and beyond, find out more and apply today at http://ow.ly/nheF30fUunX
ENDS
For more information about the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), please visit their website.
To read the full report on Physical Activity in Childhood, please click the button below.
For media enquiries, please contact The Daily Mile Foundation’s Media Agency, Media Zoo on (+44)207 384 6980, at Joseph@mediazoo.tv