Greater Manchester takes steps to tackle childhood obesity

Published on 30-12-2009

Summary:

Children are being encouraged to try new activities by health professionals in Greater Manchester, who are calling for parents to be prohibited from parking outside schools.

It is hoped that this measure - which will allow residents-only parking - will lead to more kids cycling or walking to class, after it was seen that on average nearly 18 per cent of those aged ten and 11 in the city are obese, the Manchester Evening News reports.

In addition, a study published by the Greater Manchester Health Commission and that was sent to the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities recommended that the number of 20mph areas should be increased in residential streets.

This, the body noted, would allow more outdoor play, an opinion recently put forward by Betty McBride of the British Heart Foundation.

She too called for such speed limits to be implemented, as they could "help create spaces people would want to walk, cycle or play in".