Gym for overweight kids

12 year old Junior Pinto is on a mission to get fit and lead a healthier lifestyle.

He's joined his local gym after his weight began to affect his confidence and stamina.

Junior lives in Brixton south London with his father and younger sister.

But the British weather often makes it difficult for him to get outside to exercise.

Junior's father suggested he join a gym.

SOUNDBITE: Gerson Pinto, Junior's father, saying (English):

"Our teenage years are short, we always remember them and we want to have good memories, you want to be healthy, you want to be fit, and kids are really conscious of how they look."

SOUNDBITE: Junior Pinto Age 12, saying (English):

"I enjoy coming to the gym because I can work out and I can do it in a fun way"

Government figures show that almost a quarter of four-to-five year-olds are overweight or obese and nearly a third of 10-and-11 year-olds.

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, says part of the problem is that there's nowhere for children to play safely outside.

SOUNDBITE: Tam Fry, National Obesity Forum, saying (English):

"Parks are now unsafe because they're under supervised and therefore many times parents are loathe to let their children out to play because of the fear that something terrible will happen to them."

British company SHOKK have developed a range of gym equipment especially for children.

Its Marketing Director is Kieron Murphy.

SOUNDBITE: Kieron Murphy, Marketing Director, SHOKK, saying (English):

"What we've tried to create is facilities where young people can come in have fun in a safe environment, get fit, engage with other people, engage with other young people and make more friends."

Junior still has a way to go to reach his ideal weight. Since joining the gym 4 months ago he's lost more than 4 kilos. Now he's determined not to become an overweight adult.

Hayley Platt Reuters.

stamina

noun staying power, endurance, resilience, force, power, energy, strength, resistance, grit, vigour, tenacity, power of endurance, indefatigability, lustiness
loathe - find repugnant; "I loathe that man"; "She abhors cats"

abhor, abominate, execrate

detest, hate - dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards; "I hate Mexican food"; "She detests politicians"