Sport not the only answer to obesity sayd LIPA 4:19 franchise

Competitive sport isn't the only way to get kids healthy and tackle the growing obesity epidemic according to the principle of LIPA 4:19 franchising.

Kerry Watkins is the principal of LIPA 4:19 a stage school franchise which provides dancing, acting and singing classes to children between the ages of four and 19 across the UK.

She said: "Too much focus is put on formal sports education as a means to tackle child obesity but this competitive environment can alienate some children and completely switch them off from exercise altogether.

"More inclusive and fun activities, be that dancing and acting or yoga and martial fitness, can really involve children who aren't interested in traditional sports, getting them more active without them really thinking about it."

The Government's decision to put 1,100 lifestyle coaches in primary schools to encourage children to become more active through fun activities is welcomed by Kerry, she said: "Making children more active and improving their health is the ultimate objective here and it's great to see some acceptance that sport isn't the only solution.

"Performing arts can really help to develop confidence skills and bring children's personalities to the fore as well as provide a form of exercise. Our classes are very active with lots of warm up exercises, dance coaching and role play. Each week we devote a full hour to dance which gives them a good mix of gentle fitness while developing new skills too.

"Shows like GLEE and High School Musical have done a lot for the popularity of performing arts with children of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds and have really boosted our student numbers."

LIPA 4:19 stage school, from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), currently has four franchises across the UK, with plans to expand and open a further 15 over the next year. The higher education institution has been running LIPA 4:19, a part-time performing arts academy for youngsters, for the last six years. In 2008 it franchised the brand to provide a more curriculum-based, part-time performing arts offer for four to 19 year olds across the country.