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Helping fat kids get fit
A SERIES of courses helping overweight children to fight the flab are proving a big hit in the Dudley borough.
Children who joined the first course slimmed down and became more active, reducing the time they spent watching TV or playing computer games.
The current course and others planned over the remainder of the spring and summer are already full, with places not available until September.
The free MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it!) after school courses are run alternately at Dudley and Halesowen leisure centres by the Dudley Primary Care Trust to teach families practical ways to stop their children from being obese.
The Big Lottery funded programme of seven courses over two years was launched last October in response to appalling statistics revealing that about 17,000 two to 15-year-olds living in the borough are overweight or obese.
The programme aims to improve the entire family's eating and exercise habits and at least one parent or adult carer is required to attend each two-hour session with their child over the nine week course.
It is aimed at children aged seven to 13 who take part in games, physical activities, nutrition sessions, supermarket tours and recipe-tasting evenings, all designed to help families to be fitter, healthier and happier.
"Results from the first course, which the PCT ran between October 07 and January 08, have been very encouraging," said public health consultant Karen Jackson, adding:
"By the end of the course the participating children showed an overall reduction of waist size and Body Mass Index.
"They had also reduced their time watching TV or playing computer games by around six hours per week and were doing more physical activity such as swimming and walking the dog by up to seven-and-a-half hours per week."
After completing the course, children can still receive ongoing support by joining the MEND graduate programme, with monthly meetings and access to a variety of leisure centre activities, such as swimming and dance mat sessions, at reduced rates.
Places for the September course, which will be held at Halesowen Leisure Centre, can be booked by ringing Lucy Beasley on 01384 366137. For further information visit www.mendprogramme.org
2:37pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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