London sports company organises family run to tackle child obesity

One event is not going to solve childhood obesity, but at least the sports event company “The Fix UK” is doing its bit to tackle the problem by organising a five kilometre family run on Epsom Downs and Racecourse on Sunday 19th October.

It will offer families the opportunity to take part together, with the added bonus that children can run for free when taking part with their family.

Ben Leach, Director, The Fix UK, said, “The latest government obesity figures prove grim reading. People in Britain are getting fatter and in particular this is affecting our children. Obesity brings with it a host of health related problems that cost the NHS an estimated £2bn every year, and brings with it misery to families. If our children are becoming obese before adulthood, for health and longevity this is surely a ticking time bomb. We are trying to put the onus back on the parents to help take responsibility for their children’s physical fitness.”

For entry details see The Fix UK

Kids who don’t play grow up lacking life and social skills

Free play is a vital part of a child’s development, and children of future generations could enter adulthood lacking vital life and social skills because of a lack of it.

That’s according to a new study by Persil, whose Every Child Has The Right campaign has recently launched.

A staggering 85% of British mums are concerned that children are growing up too quickly, and 64% believe children are being deprived of childhood through the lack of free play.

Free play helps the following areas of children’s development:

• Boosts their imagination and creativity
• Improves language and expression
• Helps them stay active and prevents obesity
• Reduces stress
• Helps raise self-confidence
• Increases emotional development and social skills for later on in life

Ideally, parents should make time each day for at least one hour of active play, outdoors if possible.

Children need little structure or encouragement, because they are naturally active. They just need the time, permission, and the right space.

The Free Play Initiative focuses on five areas within play that can help a child’s development: Play, Explore, Create, Imagine and Experiment.

More information is available at www.persil.com.

Bygone toys could help alleviate back pain in children

The summer holidays are upon us, a time which sees many children glued to TVs, slumped over computers and lounging around the house for up to six weeks.

According to market research by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA), back pain in the UK has risen by a staggering 5% since last year and in another poll, the BCA revealed that nearly half (44%) of 16-24 year-olds suffer from back pain.

BCA Chiropractor Tim Hutchful commented, “We are concerned that the incidence of back pain has grown so dramatically amongst young people. In 2004, less than one in five young people were suffering, now that figure has risen to every other young person in the UK having some form of back pain, which is of serious concern.”

To help alleviate the incidence of increased back pain, the BCA is encouraging the nation to look to the past and ‘bring back’ some of those well-loved toys and get active again. By inviting the nation to leave behind their lazy lifestyles, ditch the computer games and engage in some outdoor activities, the BCA is looking to the toys that kept our parents and grandparents amused for hours, to assist in alleviating the UK’s ongoing back problems.

• Skipping Ropes: assist with fitness and improves balance
• Hula Hoops: helps core stability and helps increase mobility of the spine, as well as toning abdominal muscles
• Space Hoppers: strengthens the spine, improves core stability
• Bat & Ball: important in improving hand and eye co-ordination (it is amazing how many people have difficulty catching these days!)

By providing activity for all the family, these retro toys are not only fun to play with, they can also help promote and strengthen your posture as well as improve your general fitness levels.

Chiropractor Tim Hutchful continues, “We want to educate people about how making a few simple lifestyle changes can help to reduce the risk of back pain as well as making you feel and look better. Using any of the toys mentioned or incorporating a very simple three minute exercise routine entitled “Straighten Up UK” into your daily lives will help to strengthen your spine and improve your posture.”

Straighten Up UK is a simple, three minute posture care programme designed to help you feel and look your best. The programme is divided into three quick sessions:

• Stars (warm up)
• Flying Friends (posture care)
• Core Balance (to finish off the session)

By promoting balance, strength and flexibility in your spine, the risk of getting problems with your back now and in the future can be substantially reduced.

The exercise routine is available to download from www.straightenupuk.org or for more information and a free Straighten Up leaflet visit www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk.