An animated character of online fitness coach Joe Wicks has been launched in a bid to keep children fit over the summer holidays. The Body Coach’s new animated persona talks children through exercises including jogging, squats and burpees in five-minute clips, which will be released via his YouTube channel. Wicks said the Government-backed Activate project aims to “make movement fun”. Report by Gluszczykm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
00:00Look, a big part of my job as the Health and Social Care Secretary is making sure the NHS is there for us when we need it.
00:06But an equally important part of my job is making sure that we have a healthier nation.
00:10And when one in five children are leaving primary school with obesity, we can see the scale of the challenge.
00:17And look, honestly, if it was government on our own trying to encourage children and young people to get active,
00:24I think we'd be the ones falling flat on our face, partnering up with brilliant, exciting, dynamic creators to bring to life fitness
00:34in a really fun, interactive, accessible way for children and young people, meeting them where they are, which is often online now.
00:43I think that's a much better way of getting children and young people active.
00:46So I'm really grateful to Joe and the whole creative team behind Activate.
00:51I think this is a great initiative.
00:52I think it's going to get children and young people having fun and getting some exercise while they do it.
00:59I think the great thing about Activate is that, once again, using Joe Wicks' energy and dynamism,
01:07partnering up with some of the best creative talents, the brilliant animation, great music,
01:13I think we won't just see kids dancing along at home.
01:17I think they'll be coaxing mum and dad in too.
01:19And look, we've got a big challenge with obesity in our society.
01:22So the more we can make it as easy as possible and fun as possible to take part in exercise, the better.
01:30You don't need to be doing hours a day down the gym and having an Instagram beautiful body.
01:35You just need to put in those bite-sized chunks, those 10, 15 minutes of exercise that can make a real difference.
01:44And doing a little bit regularly, that's the way to keep fit and active, and that's what I think Activate will help bring about.
01:50I really wanted to create something that was going to get kids moving, that's something that parents can use, schools can use, to tap into when they're struggling to get their kids exercising.
01:59So it's really short, five-minute exercises of amazing music, and it's all about movement, energy, getting kids feeling positive.
02:07And the impact I've just seen it have on that one group of children is the reason I've done it, you know, and I'm so proud to see it in action.
02:13I'm so proud and grateful that, like, you know, the NHS and the government and West Street has really got behind us,
02:18because it means they believe in what I'm doing and they really see the potential for it.
02:22And so the key is, you know, how can I get this in front of more people, especially teachers and parents and schools on a massive scale, so I couldn't think of a better partner.
