Obesity figures behind schools’ health drive

Jul 22 2009 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL school pupils will be given healthy eating lessons the next time they are measured at school, in response to obesity figures.

More than 8,000 children between the ages of four and 16 from across the peninsula are classified as obese, above average for the North West.

Jane Harvey is a public health specialist with NHS Wirral. She said: “We know that early intervention is key to reducing a child’s risk of becoming obese and we are working with a number of parents to support them with ideas for healthy eating, mealtime routines, eating on a budget and how to increase their child’s levels of physical activity.”

As part of this, a School Health Support Team has been established to take the healthy eating and exercise message to reception and Year 6 pupils, before their height and weight details are recorded for the National Child Measurement Programme.

Healthy weight workshops have also been arranged for Year 6 pupils and their parents.

The first is at Wirral Grammar School for Girls on July 28, then West Kirby Grammar School for Girls on July 30, Oldershaw High School on August 4 and Upton Hall High School on August 11, before finishing off at Park High School on August 13.

The workshops run from 3.30pm to 5pm.