Weight-watch workshops for Plymouth children
Free after-school MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it!) sessions will start from January 19 in Whitleigh, Devonport, North Prospect and Plympton.
The 10-week courses are aimed at overweight and inactive children between the ages of seven and 13.
They were first launched in Plymouth two years ago as part of a national scheme in response to childhood obesity rates.
Government data released last month revealed a quarter of children aged four to five and almost a third of 10- to 11-year-olds in Plymouth are obese or overweight.
Sarah Hind, MEND co-ordinator for NHS Plymouth, which runs the Devonport, North Prospect and Plympton courses, urged families to join up.
"This is a free and fun way to help families concerned about the health of an overweight child and has been proven to be effective in recently-published research", she said.
Adey Hutchins, MEND programme manager for the Sainsbury's-sponsored Whitleigh course, said the scheme improved children's self-esteem as well as physical activity levels and nutrition.
"Rather than focusing on weight loss, the weight management programme is packed with practical and interactive learning to help address the challenges of an unhealthy lifestyle", she said.
"There will be easy recipes to try and lots of quick, healthy meal ideas, a food-tasting evening and even a supermarket tour to help children and families to recognise healthy foods when shopping."
Plymouth gets fatter
The courses, which involve parents as well as children, include twice-weekly two-hour sessions.
Each class comprises an hour of physical activity and an hour's interactive workshop, which alternates between behaviour change and nutrition topics.
Group activities include active games, nutrition classes and recipe-tasting sessions.
Parents learn how to provide healthy meals and ways they can to help their children to become fitter and healthier.
Children can be referred to MEND courses by their parents, health visitor, school nurse, GP or carer.
For more information about the North Prospect, Plympton and Devonport courses contact www.mendprogramme.org or the MEND team on 01752 434623 to see if your child qualifies.
For details of the Whitleigh sessions, phone MEND on 0207 231 7225 or Adey Hutchins, the programme manager, on 07790 205248.
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