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Get Kids Active to Fight the Fat

By WLR Dietitian, Juliette Kellow BSc RD

New research confirms what many health experts have known for a long time – that obese children are generally less physically active than children of normal weight.

Scottish scientists measured the levels of physical activity of obese and normal weight children over a week and discovered that the normal weight children were significantly more active over this time. However, the differences were really quite small.

On average, obese children spent 81 percent of their time being sedentary compared with normal weight children who spent 79 percent of their time being inactive. Obese children also participated in fewer light or moderate intensity physical activities.

WLR says:

It’s unsurprising that overweight children tend to be less active.

What’s shocking about this study though is the fact that most children – regardless of whether they are overweight or not – spend more than three quarters of their time being sedentary. This study really does highlight how inactive children have become.

As a lack of activity is linked to an increase in weight, it’s crucial that we get both children and adults moving more and sitting less.

The good news is, it seems that even a fairly modest increase in the time children spend being active can help keep their weight at normal levels. Learn more about fun ways to get you and your family fit

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