CHANGING areas may be overhauled at primary schools so obese pupils do not shy away from exercise.
The review of the way primary school children get ready for PE is one of a series of recommendations to tackle obesity in Knowsley, where 23.2% of 10 and 11-year-olds are clinically obese.
Members of Knowsley council’s health and well-being committee concluded: “Facilities for Year 5 and 6 children (aged nine to 11) changing for PE be reviewed because they often act as a barrier to overweight and obese children wanting to participate.”
Changing rooms are uncommon in the primary sector, with many schools opting to ask children to change into their kit in a classroom or school hall at the same time as their classmates.
Tam Fry, a trustee of the National Obesity Forum, welcomed the review, saying it was crucial children were not deterred from exercise.
He said: “When you are faced with this level of obesity, you have to start thinking the unthinkable and I welcome the review.
“Cubicles may be going over the top, but separate curtains would be very good. They would have to be for all pupils, otherwise fat children would be stigmatised.”
But one primary head teacher, whose pupils get changed in class, said altering the current set-up could be counter-productive.
They said: “I have never had a child opt out of PE on the basis of obesity.
“If you create separate changing facilities and make an issue of it, any problem could be exaggerated. Girls will tease girls, boys will tease boys, and it would be harder to supervise.”