Would you give a 4-year-old a fitness tracker? Loose Women were sharply divided over whether sports watches for children encourage an unhealthy focus on weight or could help tackle obesity

The Loose Women today debated whether children aged four and over should be given fitness tracking watches.

While some members of the panel felt that young children should not be made aware of things like counting steps, others said it could be a smart way to tap into children’s love of technology to get them moving.

‘At the age of four they shouldn’t know about exercise and tracking and how many steps they’ve taken that day,’ argued Linda Robson, as demand for the devices continues to rise in Britain.

She was joined by Janet Street Porter, who said she hates fitness tracking and instead said the focus should be on getting children involved in team sports, amid increased interest due to the Lionesses’ success – because it gets them involved in sports as well as social contacts.

However, Ruth Langsford and Coleen Nolan were not too opposed to the idea, and felt that with childhood obesity on the rise, it could be a good way to combine the love of children, computers and exercise.

Linda opened the debate by saying: ‘Both my granddaughters are really fit because one does gymnastics and the other does football, so they don’t have to worry about sports.

‘And I think that thanks to the lionesses, more young children now play football and are more alert to all that kind of stuff. But at the age of four they are not allowed to know about that.’

“What if it’s something fun?” Ruth asked, to which Linda replied, “A fun thing is fine, as long as they don’t count how many steps they took that day at age four. They’re not allowed to know that, are they?’

As for Coleen, Ruth said there is a ‘big problem’ with childhood obesity because children have become ‘much more sedentary’ and don’t play outside ‘as much as they used to’. She suggested using a tacker because it could be more of a game.

Coleen said: “I think they do it without thinking that that’s what it is, then that’s fine.

‘And also remember that most children want the latest gadgets and toys, and many children spend their entire lives playing online computer games or watching television. Like you said, it’s not really an issue anymore.’

Coleen Nolan wasn’t against the idea and said it could be a good way to encourage children to take up sports using their love of technology

Janet Street Porter agreed with Linda that children shouldn’t be aware of their step count, and said she doesn’t like trackers nagging you

She added, “So if this is some kind of game and they can maybe use their favorite cartoon character that says, ‘Oo, let’s run around the house a little bit’ and that gets your child moving, then I think that’s okay.” is.’

But Janet wasn’t convinced, saying: ‘I just think they like a monitor, they whine and they’re not necessarily good for you.

‘What Linda said is correct that the success of the Lionesses has stimulated the interest in team sports, especially among very young girls. So why I advocate that over a fitness app on your wrist is that it promotes socialization.

‘It means you have to talk to other kids, you have to be on a team. That’s much better for you than getting out, getting out.’