Primary school kids to be encouraged by teachers to run a mile each day to tackle UK’s growing obesity crisis
The 15 minute Daily Mile initiative is being rolled out to help fulfil a government pledge to half the number of obese children by 2030
TEACHERS will be asked to make primary school kids in England run a mile a day in a bid to tackle obesity under Government plans to be unveiled next week.
The free 15 minute Daily Mile initiative - started in Scotland in 2012 with great success – comes as ministers bid to fulfil a pledge to half the number of obese children by 2030.
Campaigners – including The Sun - have branded it a “silver bullet” for boosting health and have pushed for it to be rolled out across the country.
Children will be asked to run or jog for 15mins every day in the playground daily come rain, hail or shine.
The run does not replace other sports or PE classes and teachers can fit it in during the day whenever they like.
A recent study looking at 400 pupils in two Scottish primary schools found the task had improved fitness “remarkably” and made kids leaner.
The plan is part of the Government’s obesity strategy to be launched next week to stop us becoming the fattest population in Europe in a decade.
Ministers will run a staggering seven public consultations in parallel over 12 weeks this summer on their obesity strategy across advertising, unhealthy BOGOF offers and a potential sugar tax on food like the one slapped on fizzy drinks.
The plans could also see restrictions on junk food advertising on television before the 9pm watershed and a potential ban on cartoon characters promoting unhealthy food.
Last night Tory MP Dr Sarah Wollaston praised the initiative saying it was a “really positive way of boosting activity, fitness and wellbeing”.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has described the Daily Mile as an “excellent initiative” including physical exercise in an “easy, inclusive and fun way”.
More than 3,500 schools in 30 plus countries around the globe have taken up the idea since award-winning head teacher Elaine Wylie came up with it six years ago while working at St Ninian’s Primary in Stirling.
Researchers compared almost children aged between 4 and 12 at two primary schools in Scotland - one where pupils were doing the Daily Mile, and one where they were not.
The children wore accelerometers which recorded how much moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) they were undertaking every day, and how long they were sitting about for.
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They were measured for body fat and timed on their performance at a shuttle run.
Researchers found the kids who were doing the Daily Mile were significantly healthier than those who were not.
Schools will be encouraged to take up the practice but it will not be made compulsory.
Last night Education Secretary Damian Hinds said: “The Sun are right to champion Initiatives like the Daily Mile which is a great way to encourage young people to get regular physical activity.
“The government are investing £320million a year in the Sports Premium to encourage schools to ensure their pupils are active at least once a day.
“I know many schools already do this and I’d like to see more and more do so.”
Celeb TV 'fuels fat'
TV shows are fuelling obesity by using tubby celebs, a study suggests.
Researchers say it is hard for people to realise they are overweight when they see so many.
Fashion chains which sell “plus-size” clothing are also making the condition seem normal.
A survey of 23,000 fatties found the number of women underestimating their weight rose from 24.5 per cent in 1997 to 30.6 per cent in 2015. In men the figures were 48.4 and 57.9 per cent.
Dr Raya Muttarak, of the University of East Anglia, said: “Obesity has become normalised.”
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