A new study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) claims that physical exercise has little impact on obesity in young children.

According to a randomised controlled trial undertaken by a team of researchers from Glasgow University, increased levels of exercise had little effect on reducing the Body Mass Index (BMI) or on the activity behaviour of the children.

However, the exercise did serve to improve children’s motor and movement skills which could, in the long term, affect levels of body fat as children’s confidence and ability to carry out physical activity would be increased.

Researchers studied a total of 545 pre-school children from 36 nurseries across Glasgow with an average age of 4.2 years.

The participating children took part in a nursery-based active play programme consisting of three sessions of 30 minutes each week.

BMI readings for each child were taken after six months and then again after a year. Children were also assessed for movement skills and whether the increased activity led to a reduction in sedentary behaviour.

The authors concluded that the sustainable prevention of obesity in early childhood may require change not just at nursery school and home but also in the ‘wider environment’ and that diet changes are also necessary.

Previous research undertaken in 2001 by NHS Scotland for its Quality Improvement Indicators found that 10 per cent of 4 to 5-year-olds in Scotland were obese.

The chief executive of the Fitness Industry Association, Andree Deane, said: “We welcome any research which advances our understanding of obesity and the issues surrounding it. However, being active has profound and far-reaching psychological, social and emotional benefits, so focusing on BMI might prove an academic point, but little else.”

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