According to latest British Government guidelines to be released this week, children under the age of five should exercise for at least three hours a day.
Experts say babies could be taken swimming and play on “baby gym” mats, while toddlers should walk for at least 15 minutes of routine journeys such as going to nursery. The exercise guidance targets under-fives for the first time and comes amid growing fears over childhood obesity. NHS figures reveal that almost a quarter of children aged four and five are overweight or obese. Experts predict that by 2050, this could rise to 63 per cent.
Sally Davies, England's chief medical officer, said evidence shows under-fives, including those too young to walk, need exercise – even if it is just rolling on the floor. She said, “For children that are not yet walking, there is considerable evidence that letting children crawl, play or roll around on the floor is essential during early years.” She explained, “Play that allows under-fives to move about is critical and three hours a day is essential. I think there are parents who are not aware how important it is for their children to be physically active for a minimum of three hours. Other parents are very busy and may not see how important it is to get that prioritization and balance right.”
Professor Fiona Bull, chair of the scientific committee behind the guidelines and co-director of the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity at Loughborough University, said parents should “turn the TV off”. Professor Martin Lombard, national clinical director for liver at the Department of Health, said a culture of overeating was putting the lives of more than 500,000 young people at risk.
Regular late-life exercise has a beneficial impact on DNA damage and telomere dysfunction