School diet and exercise regime failed to reduce pupils’ obesity
Primary school children who took part in a healthy eating and exercise scheme failed to lose weight or become more active, according to a study.
The research casts doubt on the effectiveness of the government’s childhood obesity strategy, which heavily promotes more physical activity in schools. It looked at a scheme in which Year 2 children took part in daily exercise sessions and families were offered healthy cooking workshops and information on local physical activity opportunities.
Academics said the programme seemed to be based on common sense. After a year, however, there was no difference in BMI, diet quality or activity levels between children on the programme and their peers who were not.
About a quarter of children are overweight when they start primary school,