The Change4Life campaign, due to launch next month, aims to bring about a lifestyle revolution involving thousands of local organisations and charities which will help mums, dads and families eat well, move more and live longer. Just how dire the situation has become is revealed in new figures which show that almost one in four 4-5 year olds and one in three 10-11 year olds are overweight or obese.

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Children in Scotland, the national agency for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations has called on the UK and Scottish Governments to invest more in a universal system of early years services and family support. The call comes after a damming report from UNICEF which shows the UK lagging behind other countries.

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The Government target that at least 85 per cent of children and young people spend a minimum of two hours a week in high-quality PE and sport by 2008 has been achieved. This is up from 25 per cent in 2002. But more needs to be done. Thinking outside the box has shown that it is possible to promote physical activity to all students by introducing alternative opportunities for physical activities which run separately from PE lessons.

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