More than half of children are expected to spend more time indoors looking at screens than playing outdoors this summer, a survey of UK parents has revealed.
Experts warn that lack of activity can lead to a variety of childhood health problems, including obesity, vitamin D deficiency and mental health issues.
Four out of five parents surveyed by children’s bike company Woom said they noticed their children seemed happier after playing outdoors.
Despite this, seven out of ten parents said they are worried about their children’s possible inactivity during school holidays.
A quarter of the 1,500 adults surveyed admitted their children spent less than an hour a day on outdoor activities during the holidays.
More than half of children are expected to spend more time indoors looking at screens than playing outdoors this summer, a survey of UK parents reveals (file image)
The findings are worrying because they suggest young children are at risk for debilitating diseases, doctors say.
NHS guidelines recommend that adults do 30 minutes of heart-pumping exercise a day.
But research shows that children often need more than that to reach their full growth potential.
The NHS also recommends that children get 30 minutes of sunshine a day to provide them with vitamin D, which promotes healthy bones and an efficient immune system.
Experts also warn that outdoor exercise is necessary to combat the rise in childhood obesity and diabetes.
According to government figures, almost one in ten UK children is obese by the time they are five and a further 12 per cent are overweight.
“For most children, 30 minutes outdoors should be the minimum,” says Dr Dean Eggitt, a GP in Doncaster.
Experts warn that a lack of activity can lead to a range of childhood health problems, including obesity, vitamin D deficiency and mental health issues (file image)
‘Regular exercise is important for muscle growth, joint flexibility and bone strength, as well as helping to increase lung and heart efficiency and mental health.
‘For children, regular outdoor activity affects almost every organ in their body. If children don’t spend time outdoors, they will miss out on all those physical health benefits and it will have a negative impact on their mental health.
‘In terms of building up potential for a poor life, missing out on summer is definitely one of my top ten things you shouldn’t do.’