Primary school children need to exercise more

National Sports Day organisers call on parents to ensure their children spend more time being active.

As children return to school this week, experts say that children are becoming increasingly inactive, leading to an increase in childhood obesity.

It is recommended that primary school children should be involved in sports exercise for at least 30 minutes each day.

However a recent Government study showed that almost 50% of Irish children participate less than four times a week in sport or exercise.

The popularity of computer games, safety issues and time spent commuting to and from school (1 in every four cars in rush hour traffic represent the school run) means that the weekly physical education class has become the only exercise that some children get.

This, coupled with the surge in the consumption of convenience foods adds to the rising problem of childhood obesity.

Commenting on the recent completion of the National School Sports Day initiative, a twelve-month programme sponsoring schools sports days and promoting healthy eating, Claire O'Brien, consultant nutritionist to Siúcra said, "Parents need to ensure that their children are involved more in sport and lead active lifestyles.

"A diet rich in carbohydrates is recommended for children, providing them with the necessary energy requirements, to allow them lead active lives"