Childhood obesity warning over clock change

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is encouraging parents to ensure children are physically active to overcome problems with sleeplessness.

A lack of sleep is linked to increased hunger in both adults and children and this can increase appetite and body weight.

 Boys develop closer bonds with Bob the Builder than with parentsPhysiotherapists said regular exercise is important to burn calories as well has promote good quality sleep.

Televisions, computers and mobile phones in a child’s bedroom all affect sleep, they said, and research has shown that for every hour a child is sitting – whether watching TV or reading a book during the day – it takes an extra three minutes for them to get to sleep.

Around one third of children in Britain are overweight or obese and only one fifth of parents know children should be physically active for one hour a day.