Parents, not teachers, can beat child obesity
While half an hour or even 45 minutes of vigorous exercise a day sounds like the answer, one has only to observe three things that completely undermine this: how the children travel, what is in their lunch box and what they do when they get home.
Many children are driven to school and those who do walk often stop at junk food shops on their way home. I've seen groups of schoolchildren outside the chippy at 4pm and others walking home with a frappuccino-type drink in their hand.
As for lunch boxes, it is often a collection of processed snacks, crisps, fizzy drinks and biscuits. No fibre, no protein – not even a sandwich in sight. And when the pupils arrive home, it's often straight on the games console for a couple of hours. The concept of playing outside is alien to some of the children I have taught.
The education system is invariably under pressure to address literacy, numeracy, behaviour and social interaction. But children's obesity is not a school issue, it's a cultural challenge that can only really be resolved by parents and the choices they make.Steve WilkinsonSheffield
Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
19 minutes ago
- The Sun
NHS strike chaos threatens to spread as paramedics REJECT pay offer on first day of doctors' walkout
NHS strikes threatened to spread yesterday as paramedics in the GMB union voted to reject their annual pay offer. It came as a five-day walkout by hospital resident doctors began over pay, led by the British Medical Association union. NHS chiefs said the health service was still 'open for business'. But ambulance crews and other NHS staff in the GMB union yesterday voted 67 per cent in favour of rejecting their 3.6 per cent offer for this year's pay rise. Paramedics joined nursing strikes in the winter of 2022-23 and could vote to do so again if they cannot get a better offer from Health Secretary Wes Streeting. National Secretary Rachel Harrison said: 'We have written to Wes Streeting, asking him to meet with us to discuss pay and other issues.' The Royal College of Nursing is also angry at getting a lower wage rise than doctors — and hospital consultants with the BMA are also considering striking again. As resident doctors, formerly called junior doctors, kicked off their strike to demand for a 29 per cent pay rise over the 5.4 per cent offer, Mr Streeting warned he could not guarantee patient safety. He said: 'I'm really proud of the way that NHS leaders and frontline staff have mobilised to minimise the disruption and the risk of harm to patients. 'What I can't do is guarantee there will be none. That's why the BMA's action is so irresponsible.' The BMA has made one exception for its strike so far. It allowed resident doctors to be called in to cover neo-natal intensive care at Nottingham City Hospital to protect newborn babies' lives. Strike leader Dr Melissa Ryan, who works there, said: 'We don't have enough senior staff to cover the doctors that aren't there. "It is important to us that those very sick babies get a lot of care.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Shed pounds with up to 61% off the walking program that's tailor-made to help you reach your goals - no equipment needed!
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Whether you have no time for the gym or are looking for an effective low-impact workout, you might want to consider walking your way to a fitter you. It sounds simple — and it is. The difference is that the WalkFit by Welltech program is designed to help you achieve your health and fitness goals without the arbitrary 'rules' that govern the usual walking plans for weight loss. WalkFit by Welltech Walk your way to improved health and fitness with this program that is tailor-made for you! You'll lose weight at a sensible and sustainable pace, enjoying all of the strengthening benefits of walking at the same time. Ready to get started? You can save up to 61 percent on your first subscription period! Click through to begin your walking journey today. That means you aren't bound to walk the standard recommended 10,000 steps if that's not right for you. WalkFit takes a personalized approach, creating a plan tailored to your specific parameters, including your existing weight, fitness level, and age. With such a carefully tailored program at up to 61 percent off your first subscription period, you can feel confident as you get started, knowing that it's made just for you. Everything is accessible, with options like indoor workouts, treadmill exercises, and step aerobics to mix things up and help you stay motivated. Equally motivating are the exciting challenges woven into the program. Some light, fun competition can go a long way in energizing you and keeping you focused — and you'll be rewarded for your efforts with streaks, awards, and badges. Of course, there is really nothing that can spur you to keep going more than seeing your hard work pay off. The program features built-in calorie tracking and step counting, so you'll always have clear insight into all you've achieved. The mindset that fueled the formation of WalkFit is simple: Walking really should be enough to stay fit and healthy. And it can be, but often people feel compelled to do the bigger things — the hardcore workouts and challenges that may burn you out before the scale even has a chance to budge. This program is designed to prevent that. It simplifies working out to its most basic, essentially serving as a powerful reminder that you actually can walk your way to a fitter body, better flexibility, and an overall healthier state. Because it's so easy to get started, you're much more likely to stick with WalkFit than you would a more intense program that leaves you feeling exhausted and frustrated. With this program, you can work your way up in a sensible way, which is the key to achieving results that actually last. As the pounds come off, you'll find yourself becoming stronger and more motivated to continue. It's so easy to get started, too. Just answer a few questions about your goals, body type, target zones, skill level, and sleep quality. The information is used to create a sustainable timeline and even a date by which you can expect to reach your target weight. Don't miss this opportunity to get fit — and stay fit! Get started with up to 61 percent off your first subscription period with WalkFit by Welltech. You are worth the effort!
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Failure to act on 999 call by authorities led to death of malnourished teenager and unwell mother
A teenager with learning difficulties would not have died if an ambulance had been sent to her home following a 999 call made three months before her body was found, a coroner has said. The bodies of Loraine Choulla, aged 18, and her mother Alphonsine Djiako Leuga were both discovered on May 21 last year at their home in Hartley Road, Radford, Nottingham. A week-long inquest heard that Loraine, who had Down's syndrome, was 'entirely dependent' on her mother, who had made a 999 call giving her address and postcode and asking for help on February 2 last year, while feeling unwell. During the 999 call, made shortly after 1pm on February 2, Ms Leuga groaned, requested an ambulance and said 'I need help to my daughter' and 'I'm in the bed, I feel cold and can't move' before cutting off the line. East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) did not send an ambulance to the address after the call was wrongly classed as being abandoned by the caller, the inquest at Nottingham Coroner's Court was told. Summing up the evidence and recording her conclusion on Friday, Nottingham Assistant Coroner Amanda Bewley said 47-year-old Ms Leuga, who born in Cameroon, had frequently refused to answer calls and had gone away for periods of longer than a month. The coroner said she was 'astonished' that Ms Leuga and her daughter were found after a member of the public contacted police after noticing he had not seen them for a lengthy period, rather than by professionals between February and May. After adding that the city council's adult social care department had 'missed opportunities to intervene' and potentially secure a different outcome, the coroner added: 'I am entirely satisfied that had EMAS sent an ambulance to Alphonsine that Loraine would not have died when she died. 'She would most probably still be alive. 'I am clear that Alphonsine died first and Loraine died afterwards.' Ms Leuga died from pneumonia between February 2 and February 8, the coroner recorded, while Loraine had died from dehydration and malnutrition and 'survived her mother by three weeks or more'. The coroner added that she was 'confident to a point of near certainty' that had an ambulance been sent to the address on February 2, Loraine would have been discovered and arrangements made for her needs to be met. The inquest was told that Ms Leuga was admitted to hospital for a blood transfusion in late January last year as she was critically ill with very low iron levels, and was given a 'pragmatic' discharge linked to her daughter's care needs. Pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton told the hearing by video-link that the mother and daughter were both likely to have been dead for 'weeks to months' before they were found, rather than for days or hours. Dr Hamilton said his initial cause of death following a post-mortem examination on Ms Leuga was pneumonia of uncertain cause, while her daughter's cause of death could not be established. Answering questions from the coroner, the pathologist said he could not rule out that Ms Leuga had died on the day of the 999 call. The body of Loraine, who was born in Italy, showed no evidence of any third party involvement. Dr Hamilton said of the teenager: 'Unfortunately, based on the post-mortem examination and additional tests alone, it is my view that the cause of death is classed as unascertained – that is, I am not able to give a cause of death on the balance of probabilities.' In a statement issued after the inquest, Keeley Sheldon, director of quality at EMAS, said: 'I am truly sorry that we did not respond as we should have to Alphonsine Djiako Leuga and Loraine Choulla. 'Our deepest condolences remain with their family. 'We fully accept the coroner's findings. After our internal investigation, we made changes to our policies, procedures and training to ensure this does not happen in future.'
