Lifestyle changes over the last two decades have seen children eating more processed food and spending more time doing inactive hobbies such as watching TV and playing computer games.

This has resulted in more children becoming overweight and shock statistics have revealed that one in 10 six-year-olds is obese and on present trends half of all children in England in 2020 could be obese.

But help is at hand as next week sees the launch of the latest round of the Carnegie Club Weight Management Programme, which is designed to help overweight children between 11 and 16 change their lifestyles.

Free places are now available on the 12-week programme, which includes a range of physical activities, as well as lifestyle education sessions for both children and their parents or guardians.

Sessions take place weekly on Tuesday evenings at the Joseph Whitaker Sports College, Rainworth, and the scheme is fully funded by Nottinghamshire County Teaching Primary Care Trust.

'Lifestyle'

At the end of the 12 weeks, children will have gained a greater awareness and understanding of why and how they can make valuable and important lifestyle changes, as well as having made friends with other young people who share similar goals.

"The club is aimed at helping people make family orientated lifestyle changes and is all about supporting people," said healthy lifestyles officer Sarah Ferneyhough.

"We focus on re-educating people and providing the opportunity for children to get involved in exercise.

"We don't do school-style PE lessons but focus on inclusive, non competitive activities and it's all about getting the children to take charge.

"We do activities such as archery and trampolining and like to get outside as much as possible — the emphasis is very much on having fun."

Active

And Sarah also explained just how important it is to encourage children to get active when she spoke to Chad this week.

"Because of changing lifestyle in the UK, childhood obesity is now classed as an epidemic and scientific research has shown that one in two people who are obese in childhood will remain obese into adult life," said Sarah.

"The Carnegie Club and schemes like it are therefore very important in not only improving the health of individuals but also reducing the strain on the NHS."

• For more information or to enrol contact 01636 655707 or email sportsdevelop-ment@nsdc.info.

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