Harry Macmillan, chief executive of children's charity MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition... Do it!) has called for a more collaborative approach to address child obesity in the UK.
Writing in the September 2011 issue of Health Club Management he said child obesity had "dropped off the political agenda", while kids' fitness was also a "low priority" in the coalition government's plans.
As a result of this, Macmillan called for the fitness industry to tackle the issue in a more collaborative way to ensure scarce resources return maximum benefit.
He said: "Despite the fact that one-third of our children are overweight or obese, policies and funding continue to focus on unproven prevention of further obesity, rather than proven treatment of those who are already overweight or obese.
"The fitness industry is well placed to tackle both child obesity and fitness. The Fitness Industry Association (FIA) is fighting a good fight, particularly through the Responsibility Deal and other policy involvement.
"Four leading organisations, including MEND and the FIA, recently submitted a proposal to the Department of Health showing how the fitness industry, with suitable training and support, could be an extremely cost-effective and scalable delivery arm for child obesity and fitness initiatives.
"The onus is on all of us, individually and collectively through the FIA, to fight to keep kids' fitness and child obesity on the policy and funding agenda."
He also highlighted the planned changes in the way health and fitness schemes will be delivered in the future and called for all stakeholders to begin to plan possible partnerships.
"From April 2013, many public health initiatives will be delivered by local
authorities, which have clearer links to community fitness than their health
counterparts," he said.
"Change4Life is also continuing and provides an opportunity for innovative partnership working. Over the next two to three years, however, NHS leadership and senior politicians believe that 'non-core' activities, including fitness and child obesity, will attract very little or no central health funding, and that many local health authorities will reduce or eliminate their spending in these areas." To read the full letter, click here.
