- More than three quarters of British children between
11 and 16 take no exercise each week, according to a new survey that will
fuel the debate about child obesity.
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- More than half of all teenagers agreed that young people
are fat, lazy and addicted to computer games, but blame school and councils
for failing to give them opportunities to exercise.
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- In the survey of more than 300 children and Youth Debate
panels held across the country, teenagers said they spent their time surfing
on the web and playing computer games, but claimed they had no other choice.
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- 'I don't think it's an issue of kids being lazier than
children before us,' said Alexandra, 16, at a north London Youth Debate
panel. 'Sport isn't accessible enough. There aren't enough proper facilities
for us.'
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- Teenagers complained that local sports centres and green
areas were being lost to building projects while the gyms springing up
in their place were expensive and far from home.
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- Almost 70% of the teenagers surveyed by independent research
agency Childwise agreed that young people today are more obese than they
used to be.
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- The findings back The Observer campaign, which has been
pushing for a boost to school sports to ensure that all children are given
at least two hours' activity a week.
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- 'Panel discussions became very heated as the children
talked of dissatisfaction with sports lessons and a general lack of facilities,'
said Jane Barrett, Specialist Child Focus Group Moderator for Barrett Marketing.
'They felt short-changed by the school and wider community.'
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- Almost all teenagers criticised how PE lessons were run.
'They are completely useless: we got just two hours every two weeks in
years 10 and 11,' said Nico, 16. 'We don't get a say in what sport we play,
so three quarters of the class don't bring their kit because they don't
like the sport chosen.'
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2003
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,1075993,00.html
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