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  Exercise toys help fight obesity
Updated 30 January 2004, 14.17
 The Power Pumper helps kids exercise
A new range of exercise toys have been launched to help fight child obesity.

Ranging from trikes to punchbags, the activity toys are the latest attempt to get kids exercising.

Sports equipment and other outdoor activity toys like kites and go-carts are also set to make a comeback in a bid to encourage you to play outside instead of sitting in front of the computer.

The products were unveiled at the London Toy Fair on Thursday.

Aerobic exercise

The Power Pumper trike needs aerobic exercise to get it going. You have to push and pull with your arms to make it work.

It was developed in America for children with co-ordination difficulties, but has taken off as an exercise toy.


Punchbag toys will get your blood pumping
Stuart Colman of Premiere Pedal Cars Ltd, which will distribute the toys in this country, is confident the Power Pumper will be popular.

He said: "It might take a while to introduce it as an aerobic toy because it's a new idea - it's rowing and not pedalling. But we believe it will be successful."

Thirteen-year-old James tried out the toy. "It's like a rowing machine on wheels but it's really good for having exercise and fun at the same time."

Health and wellbeing

Professor Jeffrey Goldstein, a social psychologist and Chairman of the National Toy Council, says it's important for kids to incorporate exercise into play.

The tri-racer scooter should get kids outdoors

"For their own health and wellbeing children need to play actively.

"Given the recent evidence of obesity in young people it's now clear the solution is to get children out and about doing things they like to do that are healthy for them."

But with the Power Pumper at £399, it may be too expensive to get kids start exercising.

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