NEWS REPORT
Lack of exercise policy - is it child neglect?
An editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has highlighted the lack of UK policy aimed at increasing exercise levels in children, with one of its co-authors suggesting such failings meet the government’s own definition of child neglect
A
recent article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) has stirred controversy, after suggesting the lack
of policy on childhood inactivity is tantamount to child neglect. The report was written by experts from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool John Moores University and the Sydney School of Public Health. The article suggests that the failure to
increase levels of exercise among younger people – despite growing evidence to show the immediate and long-term benefits of regular exercise during child- hood – amounts to negligence. It argues that governments have failed to imple- ment a national policy and that leadership and strategy have been “totally absent”. To tackle the issues facing activity
levels, the authors have called for more cooperation between governments and educational bodies to decide on a nation- al policy which caters for children from all social and economic backgrounds. “There has been a persistent failure
by both this government and former governments to meet children’s basic physical and psychological needs,” said co-author Dr Richard Weiler, consultant in sport and exercise medicine at University College London and club doctor at West Ham United. Weiler also suggested that the lack of policy “meets the government’s own definition of child neglect”, while stating that the funds which have been allocated to encourage children’s activity are “pitiful”. Recent data from the British Heart
Foundation’s Children and Young People Statistics 2013 report shows that 85 per cent of girls and 73 per cent of boys aged 13 are physically active for less than one hour per day. A quarter of children aged between two and 15 spend six hours every weekend day being inactive.
Issue 4 2013 © cybertrek 2013
Activity levels in the UK are worryingly low, according to the medical journal
We must engage children and young people in physical activity using highly qualified professionals
The comments have ignited a debate
surrounding the role that both the state and children’s parents play in encouraging activity, with Weiler arguing that schools have an important role to play. However, former children’s minister
Tim Loughton, labelled the comments as ‘alarmist’, saying “Finger-wagging and accusing the government of mass- neglect of children deeply undermines the seriousness of this problem,” he said. “I agree we need to do much more for kids and sport, making it a part of their growing up, and something they want to do because it’s enjoyable – as well as being good for them – but child neglect is ‘a persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs, resulting in serious impairment of health’ and that’s a world away from kids not doing enough sport.” Stephen Mitchell, head of consultancy at SkillsActive, which owns and operates
the recently launched Capre (the Children’s Activity Professionals Register) – which has been set up to validate the qualifications of professionals working in this sector – said there are dire health and economic implications in allowing successive generations of children to be inactive and that new thinking is needed. “We must change this situation by
engaging children in physical activity,” he said, “The way to do this is through using highly qualified professionals, who can deliver engaging, fun and safe sessions. Children are not like adults, so education on health implications is not enough for them. The first step in addressing this nationwide issue is to professionalise how physical activity is delivered to children. Through the professionalisation of this industry, parents will also become more receptive and aware of the positive impact that physical activity can bring.”
Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 19
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