Problems faced by today’s youngsters such as teenage pregnancy and pornography obsessions could be solved by bringing children up around naked bodies, according to a nudist movement.

Though many parents are concerned about the extent to which children these days are exposed to sexual images, it is ‘prudery’ that is a ‘form of child abuse’, says a shock new report by British Naturism. The group is facing a struggle to attract female members and has started a recruitment campaign.

Only 40 per cent of naturists in the UK are women and a series of events is underway at naturist clubs across the country to encourage more women ‘first-timers’. The recruitment drive is particularly aimed at mothers with school-age children.

Shock report by British Naturism brands ‘prudery’ a ‘form of child abuse’. Report concludes The report concludes the ‘prudification’ of society is a growing and serious problem that could lead to ‘greater sexualisation and violence’

New guidelines on the group’s website offers advice to men who can’t persuade their partners to get naked with them, and promotes a ‘buddy system’ where women can get naked in pairs.

Andrew Welch, spokesman for British Naturism, said: ‘Naturism appeals more intuitively to men and we have a gender imbalance. We thought we had a duty in the modern world where so many women are upset by body image issues putting pressure on them.

‘It is an opportunity for us to say here is something that can solve your problems.’

The elusive naturist woman: Only 40 per cent of naturists in the UK are women and a recruitment drive is particularly aimed at mothers with school-age children

But while British Naturism discourages young women from becoming defined by their appearance, schools that ban short skirts are criticised.

‘The end result of the skirt-lengthening spiral is the burqa,’ the report says.

Sex education in the UK also comes under fire. According to naturists, learning about bodies and sex, ‘should be done by bringing up children in a naturist environment where body honesty is key’.