During Obesity Awareness Week (11-17 March) Play England said that freeplay may be the key to the "everyday activity" that children needalongside healthier food choices.
The British Medical Journal has reported that the main solution to theobesity epidemic in young children is to "reduce television viewing andpromote playing". Now, the Plymouth Early Bird study suggests thatformal physical exercise is unnecessary, as children naturally findtheir own level of activity. Play England says that this underlines theimportance of allowing them the time and space to do so.
The Department of Health, in 2004, cited barriers to outdoor play as afactor in childhood obesity and in 2005 indicated that there was to be a"cross-departmental, strategic approach to play policy".
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