Beating child couch potato syndrome

Other areas of interest will include a computer and Internet area, cinema, cafe (that serves organic food), relaxation den, steam and sauna rooms and a health and beauty area. Memberships will vary from £29-£85 a month depending on location. ‘If we can teach kids about a healthy lifestyle early on, they’ll develop healthy habits as adults,’ he adds.

However, if tackling a full-on fitness class seems too overwhelming for your child and you would prefer to ease them into exercise more gently, start with a simple resistance training programme he or she can do at his or her own pace. ‘Proper technique and the right amount of resistance will strengthen the skeletal system and can help prevent bone-related problems in the future,’ explains Josh Salzmann, iVillage’s fitness expert.

Resistance training builds muscle and helps to reduce weight and tackle obesity. Muscle requires more energy than fat to function, so increasing muscle mass raises the metabolic rate, or the speed at which the body burns calories. As a result, more body fat is burned while exercising and at rest.

Assuming a child is supervised by a trained fitness expert, light resistance training should be safe for kids age 10 and older. Even for younger kids, Salzmann asserts there is nothing wrong with weight training if they are supervised correctly and the weights are very light. Often, children’s weight training programmes focus on correct form, which is important because learning proper technique can help maximise long-term workouts. Resistance training can also be beneficial for children who don’t particular excel at or enjoy organised sports.

Given how inactive most children are, exercise can provide a positive outlet and help them become interested in a variety of physical activities. And regular exercise can help prevent obesity-related problems like diabetes and osteoporosis.