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Without being too simplistic, but the centres will treat circa 1000 children aged 2 to 18. Prevalence rises with age but taking reception year prevalence of 14.4% and ONS mid-2020 population estimate of 11,472,510 children aged 2 - 18 gives a potential client group of 1,652,041, a shortfall of approximately 1,651,000. So no, they are not the answer. In fact, not even a drop in the ocean is a phrase that comes to mind.
The Government strategy is misguided. It fails to recognise there has been a massive environmental change which restricts children's freedom to have healthy exercise every day at no cost.
Residential side roads used to be public space in which children could play and adults could walk and talk.
The domination of the car has meant that parents are forced to keep their children indoors because of the risks the car presents.
We know from mammals in zoos that if they are caged and do not have the freedom to run around and play they suffer both physically and mentally.
Giving priority to pedestrians in residential side roads would give children a healthy lifestyle. It would also have benefits such as cutting down on pollution.
Further details can be found at our website: childrensplayadvisoryservice.org.uk
Re: Childhood obesity: are new treatment centres the solution? Of course not
Dear Editor
Without being too simplistic, but the centres will treat circa 1000 children aged 2 to 18. Prevalence rises with age but taking reception year prevalence of 14.4% and ONS mid-2020 population estimate of 11,472,510 children aged 2 - 18 gives a potential client group of 1,652,041, a shortfall of approximately 1,651,000. So no, they are not the answer. In fact, not even a drop in the ocean is a phrase that comes to mind.
Competing interests: No competing interests