Kids urge parents to get in shape

Last updated at 11:43 23 January 2006


It used to be parents who told their children to 'go outside and play', now a survey has revealed it's the other way around, with youngsters urging their indolent parents to exercise.

More than three-quarters of the 725 youngsters surveyed said they wanted their parents to lose weight for the sake of their health.

The poll, by health club chain LA Fitness, also

revealed that children are well aware of the dangers of being overweight. Almost nine in 10 knew that obesity could cause high blood pressure or heart disease.

And two thirds of the active youngsters said they encouraged their mothers and fathers to exercise and look after their health.

Dr Charles Levinson, a GP in London, said: "The UK has one of the highest rates of death from heart disease in the world and high blood pressure is also extremely serious.

"Unfortunately, these are two conditions people are aware of but try to ignore so it is excellent that children will keep health at the forefront of their parents' minds - encouraging them to get fit and stay healthy."

The nation's obesity epidemic shows no signs of abating, with waistlines expanding in both adults and children.

Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre in 2004 showed that nearly one in four men and women in England were obese last year.

Most watched News videos