Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking to assist obese children with sports and exercise alongside food awareness and education.

Tackling obesity, particularly in children, is one of the government’s priorities. We will put forward our plans for action in this area as part of the childhood obesity strategy. We recognise that schools can help to address the problem of childhood obesity, through focusing on improving physical education (PE) for all children and teaching about food, nutrition and healthy eating.

Since 2013, the government has provided over £300 million of ring-fenced funding to head teachers to improve PE and sport. We are investing a further £150 million this academic year for schools to improve the quality of PE and sport they offer. More than eight in ten schools have seen an increase in pupil engagement with PE during school time and in the number of children doing sports after school.

PE is a compulsory subject at all four key stages in the national curriculum. The PE programme of study aims to ensure that all pupils are physically active for sustained periods of time and lead healthy, active lives. The national curriculum also sets the expectation that children will be taught about healthy eating and what constitutes a balanced diet.

The government-funded Change4Life programme aims to inspire everyone to eat well, take more exercise and live longer. There are a number of campaigns which promote healthy eating and sports such as the 10 Minute Shake Up summer campaign and Change4Life sports clubs. These are extracurricular sports clubs in schools which are designed to increase physical activity levels in the least active children.