 About 40% of 11-year-old girls in Liverpool are overweight |
More than 60,000 children in Liverpool are to be given free access to leisure facilities in a bid to cut the number of overweight youngsters in the city. The council said half of 11-year-old boys and 40% of girls in the city are overweight, while one child in every 20 is clinically obese.
Children aged five to 16 will be given swipe cards to use the facilities at 15 centres after school and at weekends.
Swimming pools, astro-turf pitches and squash courts are all available.
Overweight figures
The campaign was being launched in the city on Tuesday.
Council leader Warren Bradley said: "It is vital we break the couch potato habit and tackle the growing problem of child obesity by finding innovative ways of getting youngsters out of the house and taking part in physical activity.
"Our groundbreaking kids gyms and games consoles on fitness equipment are already enticing youngsters into our lifestyles leisure centres, and this scheme will build on our success in these areas."
The council is aiming to cut the number of overweight or obese children by a half in the next three years.
It also wants to get all youngsters in the city taking part in two hours of exercise per week.
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