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Eager Students to MEND Child Weight Problem
28th January 2010 - (Click photos to enlarge)
WORRIED mums and dads concerned about their child’s weight are getting vital help from students in Chesterfield.
The lively bunch, finishing their degrees in health related exercise and fitness, are hoping to point struggling parents in the right direction.
They are running the free MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it!) groups twice a week from Chesterfield College and Brimington Children’s Centre and the eager students hope to help curb obesity in Derbyshire.
Course organiser Thomas Green (25) said they had mums and dads coming to them from all backgrounds and lifestyles.
He said: “It’s a massive problem and it comes along with the times.
“Children are always getting dropped off at school instead of walking, and video games and TV dinners are the norm. It’s behavioural and lifestyle changes we need to help them make.
”The course has been carefully designed to be at colleges and grown up learning centres so that if the children are telling their friends about it they can say they’re going to the college.”
New projects costing around £600,000 have been introduced this year to combat rising numbers of overweight youngsters.
And the Derbyshire Times and Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust campaign ‘Get Active, Get A Life!’ is focusing on getting families around the county involved in exercising.
People are being urged to pledge to do something extra this year to make their lifestyle healthier – and PCT nutrition expert Maddie Thomas said this could be a pledge for some parents.
“Maybe it’s time you and the family got some extra advice and support with your diets and lifestyle,” she said. “It’d be a great idea to pledge to attend one of our groups if your child is overweight.”
The groups, which parents can book onto it on-line while checking if their child is eligible, cater for up to 12 families.
The youngsters, aged seven to 13, are helped to understand about diet and exercise through creative play and colourful handouts and the families receive lessons, nutritional guidance, top tips for food preparation and lifestyle help.
With around 12,000 obese youngsters under-16 putting themselves at risk of serious diseases later in life Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust has begun a number of projects to help worried mums and dads including MEND.
Maddie added: “The students running this course have had some fantastic results so far.
“Mums and dads willing to listen and take advice about helping their children to beat a weight problem have really been able to change their lives and plan a healthier future.
“It’s a difficult thing to accept if your child is overweight but once you’ve taken that first step to helping them life can become much easier and then it’s about enjoying new eating habits and motivation.
”Having help from people like the students on this course can be really supportive in a fun and friendly environment and give you somewhere to turn if you are stuck for a solution.”
The ten week courses at Chesterfield College begin this month and are from 4pm-6pm Monday and Wednesday and the same time at Brimington Children’s Centre on Tuesday and Thursday.
More courses are planned this year in Dronfield, Grassmoor, Clowne and Chesterfield.
To find out if your child could be eligible go on line and complete the BMI Test at www.mendprogramme.org/ or call 01246 231255 ext 4347.
