British couch-potato children 'among world's laziest'

 

Couch-potato British children are a short "chill out" from becoming the laziest in the world, according to an international study.

UK youngsters spend 9.4 hours in front of a computer games console or TV screen each week, it said. That is just behind Australian children, who spend 10 hours a week relaxing in front of a screen - and significantly more than children in all the other locations interviewed.

 

The average British child now spends the equivalent of half a year watching TV or playing computer games between the ages of seven and 16. The report - released to highlight the second year of the Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs scheme - surveyed 3,500 young people from the UK, USA, Australia, Germany, India, China, Russia and South Africa.

Its findings mean that in the nine years between seven and 16, the average British child will spend 4,399 hours watching telly or playing in cyberspace - or 183 days.

The Tesco Sport Report also found UK youngsters spend less than an hour a day being active or doing some form of exercise.

The average British child just 6.9 hours being active a week - 26 per cent less than the time spent watching TV or playing on a computer. The report comes just weeks after Government research revealed that obesity figures have doubled among six-year-olds in just 10 years and trebled among 15-year-olds.

The report also predicts that by 2010 19% of boys in the UK and 22% of girls aged between two and 15 will be obese.

Globally, British youngsters are viewed as the seventh 'least healthy' in the 10 countries polled - behind Russia (8th), India (9th) and South Africa (10th).

The fittest are Australian youngsters, followed by those in China and Germany.

However, the report revealed that 94% of UK kids actually enjoy taking part in sport - and 89% is played in school - as in every other country. Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy said: "The report throws up some surprising findings, both positive and negative.

"But one common theme emerges - that sport is a global 'language' which unites and excites youngsters, more strongly than anything else.

"This gives me real optimism for the future, especially if we can help with such initiatives as Sport for Schools & Clubs which really can make steps towards improving the fitness of future generations."

The Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs is the UK's biggest sports voucher collection scheme, and launches on September 11 for the second year running.

Last year 32,000 schools and clubs signed up to the initiative, receiving over £11.6 million worth of sporting equipment and professional coaching sessions.

I wonder how the Americans rated?? lol

I wonder how the Americans rated?? lol

 

I was thinking the same thing! Hehe I would have thought we'd be high up there...

 

..not that I'm saying we are lazy! :P

haha its sad, we are some of the fattest people in the world...some people dont have enough food to live and we have so much taht we cant put the twinkie down and go run a mile...:angry::veryangry:

haha its sad' date=' we are some of the fattest people in the world...some people dont have enough food to live and we have so much taht we cant put the twinkie down and go run a mile...:angry::veryangry:[/quote']

 

So just how far do you run??:rolleyes:

So just how far do you run??:rolleyes:

 

 

You really like the :rolleyes: alot.....you use it in almost every post

You really like the :rolleyes: alot.....you use it in almost every post

 

And??:rolleyes:

^ :lol: I think I am falling in love with Mark..... :o

And??:rolleyes:

 

haha

^ :lol: I think I am falling in love with Mark..... :o

 

 

 

you seem to always make me smile lately..... freaky... :uhoh: :embarassed:

Someones in love.

And??:rolleyes:

 

 

 

hehehe how cute :nice: