As Greater Manchester hurtles towards Tier 4 lockdown, it is worth taking a moment to consider the impact COVID-19 restrictions are having on our mental and physical well-being. While there has rightly been much focus on cancelled hospital operations and the interruption to education, ScienceDaily reports that lockdowns have also exacerbated childhood obesity.
Italian scientists who monitored 41 children in lockdown, discovered that the children ate an additional meal per day, stayed in bed for half an hour longer and spent nearly five hours per day in front of phone, computer and television screen. They also consumed more meat, sugary drinks and junk foods. Physical activity, on the other hand, decreased by more than two hours per week.
Even prior to the pandemic Great Britain was the porker of Europe. Approximately 20% of children are classed as overweight when they start school, and 10% are classified as clinically obese. By the time they finish primary school a third of all children are classed as overweight, while the number of obese children has increased to 20%. In Oldham West and Royton, 24% of children in reception are classified as overweight rising to 38% in Year 6.
With this in mind, SRGB has put together some "Explorer Trails". This is an exciting outdoor family activity designed to get the children of Royton outside exploring our beautiful Green Belt landscape and getting some much needed exercise. There are two trails, a "family" trail and an "advanced" trail. If you complete the trail and answer all the clues you will be entered into a draw for a £50 Amazon voucher.
Our trails also come with a sponsorship option. A £100 Amazon voucher will be awarded to the "trekker" who raises the most sponsorship for our legal fund, and all other sponsorship forms returned to us by January 31st will be entered into a prize draw for a £50 Amazon voucher.
Entry costs £10 and the trails can be downloaded from our Explorer Trails page. Thank you for your support and good luck with the trail.