Children Should Be Walking To School, Says BMA

Doctors in Scotland are highlighting the importance of children enjoying an active lifestyle as part of their overall health.

BMA Scotland published a briefing paper highlighting the health and social benefits of encouraging the youngsters to have a more active lifestyle.

Dr Dean Marshall, Chairman of the BMA's Scottish General Practitioners Committee, said: "To maintain good health and stave-off obesity and other serious illness in later life, it is recommended that children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, such as brisk walking, running, and sports.

"However, research suggests that currently only around half of seven to 11 year olds are achieving this.

"So it's essential to get kids moving. The journey to and from school is the perfect place to start," he said.

In a complete reversal of the method of travel to school for the previous generation he noted: "The number of children travelling to school by car has doubled over the last 20 years.

"Getting children into the habit of walking to school has obvious environmental benefits, and it helps with the fight against childhood obesity too."

The new paper also highlights the inequalities between rich and poor which have a profound influence on the future health of children in Scotland.

Deprivation limits access to safe play areas, safe physical activities and leads to a shortage of money to take part in physical activities.

Dr Marshall added: "Everyone can increase their activity levels and therefore exercise is an effective way of addressing health inequalities.

"However, in deprived areas, many parents are scared to let their children go outside because the roads are so busy, and in many communities there are the additional dangers of unsafe environments, where play areas are littered with discarded syringes and broken glass."

The doctors' leader said that to get Scotland moving, the Scottish Government should: Develop an effective strategy to encourage teenagers and young adults to take part in regular exercise; Encourage doctors to 'prescribe' exercise for the overweight/obese, perhaps at reduced cost, or with free access to local authority sports centres; Improve access to subsidised sporting facilities for both children and parents and to encourage easy access for those from lower socio-economic groups.

He said Scotland needs to "take assertive action to improve communities and make them clean, safe and healthy for our children".

(BMcC)