Hillingdon families to benefit from new child weight management initiative

The six-week after-school course available for children aged 5 -13 whose weight is above the expected healthy weight range for their age, sex and height. Participants can be referred by schools, health professionals - or families themselves.

The course focuses on healthy eating and exercise - with positive reinforcement of behaviours from trained staff to avoid stigmatising children.

Parents attend the session with their child and are given healthy recipes they can try with their children - to challenge their tastebuds or try something new.

Children who complete the programme receive a one-month free membership which can be used at any of GLL's 'Better' branded leisure centres in Hillingdon - Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre, Highgrove Pool and Fitness Centre, Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex and Queensmead Sports Centre.

The programme is funded by the council and delivered by leisure partner GLL under the successful 'Healthwise' brand that has seen big take-up in other parts of London.

Cllr Jane Palmer, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: "I am delighted to see this innovative weight management service for children and young people launched in Hillingdon. It is an opportunity for parents and carers to access invaluable support and advice to help prevent their child's needs escalating at a critical stage of their development and help them to build healthy habits into adulthood.

"The programme further enhances our partnerships with health care providers, and has been co-developed with adolescent obesity specialists and follows best practice to ensure it meets the specific needs of young people to help create thriving, healthy households."

Vanessa Osei-Kwaku, Hillingdon's Healthwise Coordinator for Children and Young People said: "We want to help Hillingdon borough younger residents and their families be healthy and active and are keen to make it as easy as possible for them to make small changes to lifestyles to enable this.

"Where these programmes have run before, children often start out timid but blossom throughout the course."

Xplore is commissioned by Hillingdon Council as part of its public health programme and will run at four locations, including Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex and Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre which still have spaces.

• Xplore @ Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre starts Tuesday 3 June from 4pm - 6pm
• Xplore @ Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex starts on Wednesday 4 June 4pm - 6pm

To find out more about the scheme, please email: hillconfed.healthwise@nhs.net, telephone 01895 541474 or visit https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/hillingdon/hillingdon-sports-lc/xplore