Work Wise: Crib Sheet - A plan to boost children's activity

I've heard a lot about food and diet lately, but what's happened to the push to make our children more physically fit?

Physical activity was one of the priority areas for improvement in Choosing Health, the 2004 white paper, with an action plan focusing on this issue published the following year. In May 2007, the Department of Health asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) to develop guidance on promoting physical activity, play and sport for children at home, in school, in early years settings and in the community.

- What's going to be in this guidance?

Nice is still reviewing a series of evidence documents it has published for consultation. These documents cover a range of issues including: epidemiology; quantitative and qualitative correlates; interventions for under-eights and adolescent girls in particular; active travel interventions; family and community interventions; and active play. Additional evidence papers look at economic evidence and cost effectiveness.