30th April 2015. From 1st May 2015, overweight and obese 5-19 year olds living in mid Surrey (Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Banstead, Tattenham and Elmbridge) will benefit from Healthy Weight, Healthy Lifestyles – a new three-month programme to help them and their families stop further weight gain, and ultimately return to a healthy weight for their age and height.
The programme aims to support 5-19 year olds and their families to make long-term changes to their lifestyles – so they make healthier choices about what they eat and how they live.
Participants will benefit from a 7-part programme of face-to-face and phone support with a specially trained nurse, who will cover topics such as motivation, food and diet, understanding food labels, physical activity and lifestyle tips, such as healthy snack ideas. Support will also be offered through partnerships with local leisure centres and Active Surrey, as well as through aids such as pedometers, Apps and information leaflets.
The programme, which is initially being piloted for six months until 31st October 2015 and hopes to support up to 50 children and young people, is being delivered by CSH Surrey.
Chris McDermott, a specialist school nurse practitioner at CSH Surrey, who devised the programme (which is based on NICE guidelines) with CSH Surrey Paediatric Dietitian, Diane Scheppel, says: “Around 18% of 4-5 year olds in Surrey are overweight or obese, which rises to more than 26% of 10-11 year olds (Surrey National Child Measurement Programme 2012-13). Through this programme we will support families to make long-lasting lifestyle and behaviour changes that will benefit their health for the rest of their lives.”
Julie Nelson, Public Health Lead at Surrey County Council, which has commissioned the programme, says: “Families in mid-Surrey will now be better supported to address childhood obesity, which has become one of society’s biggest health challenges. There are approximately 57,000 overweight or obese children in Surrey, many of whom will develop long-term health and psychosocial problems. The aim of this new programme is to support children and young people and their families develop healthier lifestyles, which in the long term can lead to them achieving a healthier weight and hopefully, happier lives. The results from this pilot programme will aid Surrey County Council to commission a Surrey-wide programme.”