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Case Study - Tackling Childhood Obesity

Children's physical activity: stimulating policy debate and health improvements

Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges facing Britain in the 21st century. EPSRC-funded research led by Professor Roger Mackett between 2001 and 2006 looked at children's physical activity. Findings included the insights that:

  • Boys are more active than girls
  • Children burn more calories in free play than in organised activities
  • Adult supervision reduces children's exploratory behaviour and interaction with their local environment
  • Children in Britain are less active and have less freedom to go out than children in many other countries, especially Denmark, Finland and Norway

As well as assessing the effects of children's play on their physical health, Professor Mackett particularly explored the benefits to them of walking to school. Many short car trips in Britain are dictated by the needs of children to be escorted; this has serious implications for children's health and may contribute to car dependency in later life. This part of the research found that:

  • Children burn more calories walking to school in a week than in two hours of PE/games lessons
  • Children who walk to school are more likely to be active at other times

In response to these initial findings, the study introduced a specific intervention called walking buses, in which groups of children walk to school under adult supervision. It was found that children transferring from cars to walking buses increased their physical activity by 22 minutes per day.

As well featuring in media outlets such as the Daily Telegraph, New York Times and BBC Breakfast television, Professor Mackett's research findings have contributed to the public health policy debate and had multiple impacts on central and local government policies. For example, the Association of Play Industries, Play England and Play Wales used the evidence from his research to emphasise the health benefits of children's play and to argue for safer streets and places for play. The data from the research was also used in the School Travel Health Check (STHC) tool, which is used by local authorities and schools to set targets and monitor progress in active and sustainable travel to school. It has further been used to inform estimates of savings in carbon emissions associated with the journey to school.

In addition, the research was used by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to demonstrate that walking buses were the most cost-effective of four interventions tested in reducing childhood obesity. It was taken up widely by central and local government and many walking buses have since been set up around the country. Professor Mackett's research also helped to prevent a school closure in East Dunbartonshire by supporting campaigners' argument that more children would need to travel by car to the school's proposed new location.