Reuters  

Thursday March 22 12:01 PM ET
Chubby Teletubbies to Release Fitness Video 

LONDON (Reuters) - Television creatures the Teletubbies are to release
their own keep-fit video for toddlers, answering critics who say
the chunky foursome encourage children to be overweight.

Word of the video came after a speaker at a nutrition conference in
Australia said the Teletubbies were cute and cuddly but may also be
``helping to entrench poor messages that being fat and jolly are
attributes to aspire to.''

The BBC rejected Gavin Frost's criticisms and stood behind Teletubbies
Tinky Winky, Dipsy, La La and Po who spend their days
frolicking around their Tubbytronic Superdome with pet vacuum cleaner
Noonoo.

``The series has always been about movement, physical development and
exploration,'' said Mark Johnstone of BBC Worldwide, the
broadcaster's commercial arm that has sold the show to around 85
television companies in 35 languages and 120 countries.

The Teletubbies Go! video will encourage basic skills like jumping,
stretching, marching and even standing on one leg.

Studies in many countries have shown a dramatic rise in obesity among
children, leading to early risk of diabetes and other health problems.

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