15 minutes football ‘can halve obesity risk’

A study from Bristol University has found that the risk of children becoming obese could be halved with 15 minutes of moderately vigorous exercise each day.  Even small increases in daily activity, such as walking to school instead of going by car, could have impressive long-term effects.  The effects are greater in boys than in girls, but both sexes benefit.   

Researchers monitored 5,500 12-year-olds from the Children of the 90s project and found boys have just 25 minutes of activity each day on average, and girls only 16 minutes. 

Professor Andy Ness of the University of Bristol said: “If you say to parents they have got to take their children for an hour-long early morning run, they will throw up their hands say it is impossible.  But if you say kicking a ball around for 15 minutes or going for a quick swim is all that is needed then they may well feel that is manageable.  And it is probably good for the family, too.” 

Professor Ness says claims by rival researchers that activity levels of children are genetically pre-determined are wide of the mark.  Professor Chris Riddoch, of the London Sport Institute at Middlesex University, one of the project leaders, said: “We know that diet is important, but what this research tells us is that we mustn’t forget about activity.  It’s been really surprising to us how even small amounts of exercise appear to have dramatic results.”  The study is in PLoS Medicine.

(Independent, p19, Jeremy Laurance, ½ page; Times p7; Nigel Hawkes)