Leisure Inc. tackles child obesity in Bahrain

Bahrain-based leisure development and consulting firm Leisure-Inc has added three new interactive children’s fitness systems to its product portfolio in a bid to tackle the growing problem of child obestity.

The company has signed an exclusive contract to distribute the Dance Mats, Sport Wall and Expresso Bikes, supplied by UK firm Zig Zag, in Bahrain.

Leisure Inc. CEO Rohun Bevan said he hoped the products, designed to make exercise for children fun and stimulating, will help increase inactivity in Bahrain — where 33% of children (63,000 children) are considered to be obese.

“Children want to have fun rather than getting fit so our interactive systems for children incorporate group activity that is engaging, fun, whilst at the same time, burns calories,” said Bevan.

The company is targeting schools with the product, but said it has also had “some interest from a number of hotels in Bahrain looking to introduce the products into their establishments”.

According to the World Health Organisation, children in the Middle East have the highest prevalence of obesity in the world.