Children Influenced By Their Parents' Physical Inactivity

www.grub4life.com today reports that children are more likely to watch high levels of television if their parents do, but parents do not need to be physically active to help their children to be active, a new study has found.  06-06-2010

In a story from www.medicalnewstoday.com, the paper, ‘Parent and child physical activity and sedentary time: Do active parents foster active children?’ by Dr Russell Jago and colleagues in the Department of Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Bristol is published online in BMC Public Health.

Dr Russ Jago, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, said: "Physical activity has many positive effects on children's health while TV viewing has been associated with adverse health outcomes. Many children do not meet physical activity recommendations and exceed TV viewing guidelines.

"Our research suggests that parents do not need to be active for their children to be active. Parents should therefore look at ways in which they can help to facilitate physical activity for their children such as by encouraging walking to school or promoting outdoor free-play in safe areas close to home."

With thanks to www.medicalnewstoday.com.

To read the full story go to:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189947.php