Physical activity is at least as important as diet in combating obesity. This is best provided by allowing children time and space in which to play. A study by University College London found that unstructured play burnt off more calories than organised sport and, in 2001, a report in the British Medical Journal said that the main solution to childhood obesity was to turn off the TV and promote play.
Playing is children's default setting and is what they tell us they need to do more. Yet the only attempt to increase public play provision and playable public space has been a one-off Lottery programme that gives £124m over three years, to be shared between all local authorities in England. This contrasts with the £2.4bn that will have been invested in school sport by 2011.
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