Kids must get active

AUSTRALIAN children will live shorter and unhealthier lives than their grandparents unless they become more physically active, statistics suggest.

A report by the Australian Health Policy Collaboration shows that more than 70 per cent of children and 91 per cent of young people are not meeting the national physical activity recommendation of 60 minutes each day.

Almost a quarter of all children and 29 per cent of young people are overweight or obese, placing them at significant risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Experts have identified the school “drive and drop” culture as the main reason children are so inactive, urging parents to take on active transport to school, including walking or riding.