Sweet fizzy drinks are undoubtably a serious health issue and far from it being a kindness to allow children to indulge in regular sweet treats, it is in my opinion quite the opposite. When my kids were small, it was a case of ignorance being bliss. They had no knowledge of sweet drinks or sweets because they were never offered them and they therefore never missed them. By the time they did discover there existence, they were totally used to drinking water and were old enough to have it explained why we didn't drink them other than for special occasions. All now in their 20's, slim and with no fillings. However, calories (even 'empty' poor quality calories such as sugar) are not the only culprit in the obesity epidemic. Lack of activity is playing a crucial part. The rise in inactivity has followed the rise in car ownership and we are simply not getting the exercise we all need. The N.I.C.E. report that came out recently said that people should 'shun their cars if a trip could be done in 15 or 20 mins on foot or bike'. It calls on local authorities to to do more to make walking and cycling the preferred choice for travel and that this approach was needed to combat the 'silent epidemic' that inactivity poses for the health of the nation. Our transport strategy is currently being drawn up. Let's hope that some meaningful changes are made to encourage us and particularly our children to use our journeys as opportunities to get some of this much needed exercise and for it to become a lifelong habit.
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
