Lifestyle Coaches to Help UK's 4-Year Old Couch Potatoes

The British government has come up with a 1-million-pound scheme, in which kids as young as four will be made to fight the flab with a team of 1,000 lifestyle coaches.

Overweight primary school pupils will be drilled in exercise, which includes yoga, martial arts, cheerleading, acrobatics and breakdancing, during lunchtime or after-school classes.

'Ultimate Couch Potato' from Manhattan
The title of 'Ultimate Couch Potato' went to Jorge Cruz, from Washington Heights, Manhattan after sitting for 48 hours straight.

Ministers are hoping the programme, launching in 1,100 schools, can recruit 20,000 children to tackle the nation's childhood obesity problem.

The unpaid coaches will work both with overweight youngsters and those who lack confidence in PE.

"Although childhood obesity is levelling off, we'll do all we can to support those children most at risk," the Daily Star quoted Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron, 50, as saying.

UK National Trust's Novel Strategy to Make Couch Potatoes 'Get Dirty'
Brit National Trust has set up a campaign to encourage TV-stricken kids to play outdoors and 'get dirty'.

"Coaches will help them find a fun way on to the right track," she explained.

But Liberal Democrat education spokesman David Laws, 44, called the move a publicity stunt on March 5.

�Mouse Potatoes� Aren�t �couch Potatoes� Always: US Researchers Rebut Popular Claims
The stereotype of computer gamers being 'couch potatoes,' is completely baseless, claim US researchers, who say that many people fond of gaming are in much better shape than the average people.

"This is just another expensive gimmick from a government which has run out of ideas," he said.

And Nick Seaton, of the Campaign For Real Education, called the scheme "a ridiculous waste of money".

Chinese Citizens Became Couch Potatoes for Beijing Olympics
Despite hopes that the 2008 Olympics would instill a healthy new appetite for sport lovers, the event has been able to inspire only one form of exercise among the people in Beijing:

"Children should play competitive sport rather than take part in politically correct activities," he stated.

A spokesman for the Fields In Trust group, which protects playing fields, said: "The best policy would be to ensure the availability of free, local outdoor spaces."

Source-ANI
TAN