Government Programme Aims to Help Kids Beat the Bulge

Children at schools in deprived areas are to be given pedometers as part of a £494,000 project to motivate inactive children to become fitter. Public Health Minister Caroline Flint has launched the National School Pedometer Programme, which will see 250 schools in deprived areas across the country be given 45,000 pedometers, to encourage children to become more active.

In addition, all schools will have access to online resources that can be used inside and outside the classroom.

The National programme announcement comes on the heels of a successful pilot pedometer scheme Schools on the Movethat was trialed in 50 schools and showed encouraging increases in childrens' activity levels.

Most children said the pilot increased their interest in physical activity and half said they had become more active as a result. While the pilot proved particularly effective at encouraging less active children to do more exercise, it did appeal to children of all fitness levels.

Even families of students got in on the action as students were so keen to improve their step count they persuaded their parents to take them on country walks and visit local health clubs at weekends.

In the national programme pedometers will be used in schools as a tool to support a wide range of curriculum topics and to increase awareness amongs pupils of the need to be active. Teachers will be trained in how to use the programme within the curriculum.

Children will be able to chart their pedometer progress by logging onto a dedicated website that will help them set step targets.

The Schools on the Movepilot shows physical activity levels and interest in continuing did increase for participants, particularly those who were less active.

63 per cent of children felt that the Schools on the Moveproject had increased the amount of discussion and interest in physical activity within their school.

Step counts increased steadily from an average of 8355 steps at baseline to an average of 13939 at the end of the 23 week programme.

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "Using Pedometers in schools has successfully encouraged children, especially those who do less exercise, to become more active, so I am pleased to announce that this scheme is being extended. It is particularly impressive that the childrens' enthusiasm for pedometers has led to whole families becoming fitter as children have been so eager to improve their step count they have persuaded their parents to do things like go walking with them, or join an exercise club.

"Pedometers help to show that you don't need to join a gym or start running marathons to improve your fitness levels - simple things like going out for a walk, or taking the stairs instead of a lift can all help to improve your overall physical well being."

We know that obesity prevalence is often high in deprived areas and schools with high levels of obesity will therefore benefit from the National School Pedometer Programme. Evidence shows that obesity is best tackled through activities and interventions targeted at a population level that address the whole school environment and the wider local community.

Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: "The use of pedometers in schools has proven a great way of not only increasing young peoples' physical activity levels but also helps us take the importance of daily exercise into the classroom."

"By making physical activity relevant across the curriculum, you can engage even more young people with sport and exercise and likewise stimulate learning in other subjects like Maths, Science and Geography."

Schools Minister Jim Knight said: "Walking is one of the easiest ways to exercise and pedometers can make it more fun for children. Good habits started early can help children maintain a healthy lifestyle through their adult lives.

"Schools are already increasing children's activity levels by boosting the opportunities to take part in PE and school sport. Pedometers can be especially effective in encouraging young people to be active out of school hours and at weekends."