Dieting is not enough to combat obesity says UU researcher

Diet changes alone will not combat the increasing rate of obesity among children in Northern Ireland, a University of Ulster researcher has said.

Professor Colin Boreham of the University's School of Applied Medical Sciences and Sports Studies said that while it's true that local children were becoming fatter, it was also true that they actually eat less fat and fewer calories in their diet than they did even ten years ago.

Professor Boreham argued that the real reason why children are getting heavier is because they don't get enough exercise.

"Physical education has been shunted down the list of priorities in schools, and more and more children are driven to school by their parents on the 'school run',” he said.

"Few children walk or cycle to school, and the numbers involved in sport are in decline.

"Research from our Young Heart survey of over 2000 Northern Ireland children indicates that the current emphasis on diet as the major contributing factor to rising obesity levels in children may be misplaced.”

To tackle increasing obesity among children, Professor Boreham - who recently was a co-author of 'Five A Week' , a major report from the Chief Medical Officer on links between physical activity and health , called for daily PE classes for all children with the emphasis on fun; PE to be brought back to the heart of the school curriculum; and increased promotion of safe walking and cycling to school.

The 'Five A Week' report recommended that for children and young people, a total of at least 60 minutes a day of at least moderate activity is needed - and at least twice a week this should include activities to improve bone health, muscle strength and flexibility.

(MB)