Baroness Sue Campbell, the chair of the Youth Sport Trust, has described the current physical inactivity levels of young people as “bleak and worrying”.

Setting out where action is required by any future government to tackle the issue, Baroness Campbell says physical education and sport in schools must be prioritised if Britain is to fight back against child obesity.

“Reversing the growing levels of physical inactivity amongst young people is a seismic challenge,” she said. “With one in three children leaving primary school obese or overweight, and less than one in five meeting the minimum recommended guidelines for physical activity, it is a bleak and worrying picture.

“At the Youth Sport Trust, we believe every child has a right to access high quality physical education and school sport. By making this a priority area, the next government has an opportunity to improve our nations’ health, education and sporting prospects.”

Launching the Youth Sport Trust’s Unlocking Potential manifesto for PE and school sport, Baroness Campbell said a joined-up, cross-departmental approach to PE and physical activity by the education, health and sport sectors was crucial to reversing current trends. The trust wants to see more time for higher quality PE, physical activity to be embedded into every school day and an increase in sustained competitive sport in schools.

“Our manifesto demonstrates how PE, school sport and physical activity improves physical health; boosts mental health and builds resilience; creates active habits for life and boosts academic achievement,” Baroness Campbell said. “We have set out where we believe any future government should focus its efforts if we are to stand any real chance of reversing the worrying trends that are leading to increasing sedentary lifestyles amongst young people.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “As part of our plan for education, we want children to get into the habit of playing and enjoying sport – both in lessons and after school. That’s why we are giving primary school headteachers over £450m of funding to spend on improving PE – and our own research shows they are using it to deliver more and better sport.

“Our findings show that primary schools are delivering more than two hours of PE each week – and it has increased by an average of 13 minutes in the last year. 83% schools also reported an increase in participation in after-hours sports since the introduction of the funding.

“We are pleased that the Youth Sport Trust’s own figures show that PE lesson time has actually increased for pupils in Years 10 to 13.”