Also in May:
25 May 2009
NHSG/79/09
Participants are being welcomed to a new pilot programme in Aberdeen, called 'Eat, Play and Grow Well', to help Primary 1 children in the city achieve a healthy weight.
This free NHS Grampian programme, launched in Aberdeen by the Aberdeen City Community Health Partnership (CHP), will provide friendly, informative and fun sessions for Primary 1 children and a parent, or carer. It is the first time NHS Grampian has offered a programme covering both diet and activity, involving the whole family.
The sessions will run on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for the first three weeks in July. Each session will be led by NHS Grampian-trained staff encouraging families to explore how making small changes to their current lifestyle could lead to major benefits to their and their child's health and wellbeing.
"NHS Grampian, like other health boards, is supporting the Scottish Government's action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity," says Heather Kelman, General Manager Aberdeen City CHP.
"We have been tasked with setting up a family-focussed healthy weight programme for children aged 5-15, and as part of a wide range of activities to encourage youngsters to be fit and healthy, NHS Grampian has created 'Eat, Play and Grow Well'."
Jenny Coutts, Public Health Dietitian, who is coordinating the pilot programme, says: "Childhood is the best time to develop healthy eating and healthy activity habits, and, in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere, we want to help parents lead by example and ensure their children are a healthy weight for their height and age."
Over the next two years, the plan will be to offer further programmes to school-aged children and their families across the city.
From Tuesday July 7, the programme will run twice a week at Airyhall Community Centre, Countesswells Road, Aberdeen, with each 1.5 hour session being held from 6pm to 7.30pm.
The programme will offer a mix of diet and healthy lifestyle advice, such as understanding food groups, menu planning and monitoring activity habits, and children will take part in physical activities.
To find out more and book a place on the programme, contact Maria Nika on 01224 558671
Following evaluation of the pilot, the aim is to establish healthy weight programmes across Grampian for youngsters and their families.
ENDS
Corporate Communications
NHS Grampian