Children will be joining their favourite Disney characters for short bursts of exercise this summer. Change4Life’s latest 10 Minute Shake Up campaign has been launched – inspiring children to complete six or more 10 minute bursts of physical activity throughout the day so they meet the recommended 60 minutes children need each and every day.
The 10 Minute Shake Up gives children the chance to join one of four Disney teams – Frozen, Toy Story, Monsters and Big Hero 6 – and help their chosen side win by doing as many Shake Ups as they can every day.
It comes as latest figures show that just 21% of boys and 16% of girls currently do at least 60 minutes of activity each day – and that more than a quarter of 10-year-olds in Wolverhampton are obese.
To take part, people should order their free 10 Minute Shake Up pack, which includes a team wristband with timer, Disney team poster and stickers, and 10 Minute Shake Up activity cards, by visiting www.nhs.uk/10-minute-shake-up as soon as possible.
Children can complete Shake Ups suggested through the campaign, or any other form of exercise – the most important thing is they complete 10 minutes of sustained exercise at a time.
Councillor Sandra Samuels, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Obesity is a ticking time bomb in our city, particularly among Wolverhampton’s younger residents, so it's an issue that we're doing all we can to tackle.
“Regular exercise is a key way in which people young and old can help themselves stay in shape, and the 10 Minute Shake Up is an enjoyable way in which younger residents can burn off those excess calories. What better time to start than during the school holidays?”
This is the second year that Change4Life has teamed up with Disney, with the previous campaign resulting in children around the country being active for an extra 104 million minutes last summer.
Professor Kevin Fenton, National Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, said: “Levels of childhood obesity are unacceptably high. Breaking up the 60 minutes of physical activity that children need each day into 10 minute bursts will be more appealing and manageable for children and parents alike.”
