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Family fitness makeover
Increasing numbers of Britain's kids are getting fat and unfit, so it's time to tear them away from their X-boxes and bags of crisps, and think up fun ways to get them into shape
Almost a quarter of Britain's under-fours are already medically overweight and, according to a recent study carried out at Liverpool University, the number of clinically obese children has almost doubled in the last 10 years to around one in 10. The implications are worrying: 'Children who become overweight or obese in childhood are more likely to become obese adults,' says Dr Peter Bundred, an expert in Primary Care, who led the study.
The increasing trend towards children developing Type 2 diabetes and even heart disease ought to be enough to make most parents sit up and take notice, and it's easy enough to take some basic steps for the better right now. We're not suggesting for a minute that you should put your children on a 'diet' and march them down to the local gym. Far from it. Getting fitter should be synonymous with having a good time, whatever your age - and our plan is designed for all the family to enjoy.
Here are some inspiring ways to start 2008 on a fitter family footing:
Get physical!
Just moving around instead of sitting down is a great start to getting more physical. Try these ideas to bring the fun back into fitness:
- Set some physical challenges for all the family: it could be playing Twister; having a disco dancing competition (but you have to really throw yourselves into it!) or skipping with ropes in the garden - anything that gets you all moving. On your calendar, pencil in an activity for every day so that you all get to spend some active time together.
- Turn out the shed and find your old Swingball, Frisbee®, footballs, basketball hoop - anything you used to enjoy doing but have forgotten about - then give it a new lease of life with the kids.
- Investigate different sports for your child to take part in. Some leisure centres coach kids from as young as four in basketball, tennis and martial arts.
- Put your family bikes back into service. If you don't have any, look for second-hand bargains in the local newsagents' windows or in your free papers, or check out your local car-boot sale. Just after Christmas is a good time to buy, as lots of adults and children will have had new bikes from Santa. Schedule a long bike ride for the next three available weekends.
- Dig out your swimming cozzies and check out the times of the family swimming sessions at your local leisure centre. (And don't forget to go along!)
- Get your skates on! Try inline skating. Again, some leisure centres have indoor rollerblading sessions for both adults and children.
- Have a sponsored TV-free weekend: ask friends and family to contribute and give any money you raise to the British Heart Foundation. Use your spare time to do something physical. How about clearing the loft or garage together, decorating one of the kids' rooms or doing whatever gardening the weather will allow?
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