Childs play helps combats obesity
Research published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal suggests that children can benefit more from active play
compared to structured exercise.
“When it comes to combating obesity and increasing children’s daily physical activity levels, active play is just as
important, if not more so, than structured exercise,” says Associate Professor Erica Hinckson from AUT University’s
Centre for Child Health Research and Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition.
The research examined perceptions of physical activity versus ‘play’ amongst parents and children from
socio-economically deprived areas. Findings revealed that participants viewed physical activity and play quite
differently, which could lead to barriers in engaging with any type of healthy activity.
“Physical activity was seen as structured activity, undertaken for a specific timeframe every day, whereas play was seen
as unstructured activity which involved having fun,” says Hinckson.
“The view that physical activity is something structured (in order to be beneficial) seemed to distance participants
from engagement. There was a strong perception that physical activity was ‘good for you’, rather than ‘being fun’, and this perception seemed to be a barrier to children getting involved in physical activity.”
A group of South Auckland school children (age 8-12), and their parents took part in the study where the aim was to
identify factors influencing healthy and overweight children’s after school activities.
Previous research has found significant differences in the health and weight of children from lower socio-economic
backgrounds compared to middle income families.
“After school community activity programmes have been identified as a means of increasing overall activity levels in
children, however the emphasis of these should be on ‘play’ rather than physical activity.”
Hinckson says that while interventions focusing on active play have proved successful at increasing physical activity,
some practitioners do not view play as physically demanding or able to provide children with the same benefits of
structured exercise.
Despite this, previous research has shown that children engage with more moderate to vigorous physical activity from
active play during lunch break at school than from structured exercise in physical education classes.
Parents in the study also highlighted a number of potential barriers to increased physical activity levels in their
children; these included time, money and transport. Community support and communication were identified as important in
creating safer communities and places to play for children.
“For after school community activity programmes to be successful, a safe neighbourhood environment in conjunction with
increased community support is really important for parents.
“Free or low cost programmes, supervised playgrounds, improved community communication and support, car pooling kids to
activities – these were amongst some of the recommendations we received from our parents to increase physical activity
of children in their neighbourhoods,” says Hinckson.
Ends