Citerank: (11) 348687More physical activity for kids within and beyond educational settingsThe introduction of compulsory physical education in schools is positive. However, greater promotion of physical activity outside of educational settings is also key to ensure any participation amongst pupils is not limited to school. Similarly, caution is needed to ensure that the promotion of competitive sport does not put off children less disposed to that sport. This could result in children either returning to or increasing their sedentary lifestyle.565CA4D9, 371554Body fat's role in excess mortality and morbidity remains uncertain1198CE71, 371555Scarce health resources would be better spent elsewhereFraming obesity as a health crisis results in scarce health resources being directed to millions of people who are already healthy.13EF597B, 371557Unintended consequences of anti-obesity messages to childrenResearch suggests that the anti-obesity health messages targeted at students can have unintended and deleterious consequences for the children.8FFB597, 371558Different children have different contexts and needs Policy measures – and the messaging associated with them – need to be sufficiently flexible and intelligent across different contexts to reflect the fact that children's experiences vary widely and that many children are already physically active.8FFB597, 399554Scarce health resources would be better spent elsewhereFraming obesity as a health crisis results in scarce health resources being directed to millions of people who are already healthy.13EF597B, 399665Unintended consequences of anti-obesity messages to childrenResearch suggests that the anti-obesity health messages targeted at students can have unintended and deleterious consequences for the children.8FFB597, 399666Different children have different contexts and needs Policy measures – and the messaging associated with them – need to be sufficiently flexible and intelligent across different contexts to reflect the fact that children's experiences vary widely and that many children are already physically active.8FFB597, 399768More physical activity for kids within and beyond educational settingsThe introduction of compulsory physical education in schools is positive. However, greater promotion of physical activity outside of educational settings is also key to ensure any participation amongst pupils is not limited to school. Similarly, caution is needed to ensure that the promotion of competitive sport does not put off children less disposed to that sport. This could result in children either returning to or increasing their sedentary lifestyle.565CA4D9, 399994The health consequences of rising obesity are not clearAlthough the incidence of overweight and obesity are increasing, the health consequences of the increasing incidence are not clear.13EF597B, 400010Body fat's role in excess mortality and morbidity remains uncertain1198CE71

We write as a group of concerned academics who have been researching in the area of physical activity and physical education for most of our careers. We want in this submission to provide an alternative point of view to the idea that there is an 'obesity epidemic' which requires urgent government intervention.

Instead we propose that there is sufficient robust research to suggest that the claims to an 'epidemic' are exaggerated and have been dramatised to catch public attention and funding. More importantly we argue that the promotion of such an idea can have consequences that are 'unhealthy' and counter to the well-being of children and young people. And lastly, we argue that rather than focusing on physical activity to prevent obesity, government policy and funds would be better directed at providing facilities, access and opportunities for children and young people to be physically active, to learn and to engage in a wide range of physical activities within and outside schools.