Physical education and childhood obesity

This paper reports on an Association for Physical Education specialist seminar which took place in May 2007 on the subject of physical education and childhood obesity. The main aim of the seminar was for physical educators to engage in a debate focusing on the following questions: • What are the facts about childhood obesity? • What are the issues? • What can we learn from physiologists, psychologists, sociologists and pedagogues? • What does all of this mean for physical education? To achieve this, a number of prominent academics from different disciplines (physiology, psychology, pedagogy and sociology) were asked to present their perspectives on the facts and issues associated with childhood obesity and their views on physical education’s role in addressing these. The seminar was concluded with a consideration of the way forward in terms of proposals, guidelines and recommendations for physical educators. The paper is structured in five sections, with each comprising a representation of each presentation including the key messages and recommendations for physical education