FRESH

It is the ultimate goal of any parent to see their child happy and enjoying life. However, all too often, when a child is overweight this is not the case. Research backs up celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s findings that children consume too much sugar, salt and saturates and only consume around 2 portions of fruit and veg a day. Today children prefer to stay indoors and play Xbox or watch television yet it’s so important that parents encourage children to participate in physical activity. Children should ideally take part in some form of regular activity or sport outside of school and at the weekend but many children today do not. A healthy lifestyle in childhood can avoid health and social problems later on in life.

One of the main barriers to change is parents own perceptions of being overweight. If a parent has no awareness they are very likely to take no action at all. The British Medical Journal reports some worrying statistics from a study conducted at the Peninsula Medical School, Plymouth.

Results showed
• Only a quarter of parents recognised their child was overweight.
• Even when obese, 33% mothers (57% fathers) saw their child's weight as “about right.”
• Parents were less likely to identify overweight in sons than daughters.
• Only a quarter of parents were even “a little worried” if their child was overweight.
• One in ten parents expressed some concern about underweight in normal weight children. This is reflective
  of what is currently perceived as ‘normal’.

The reasons for poor awareness might include denial, reluctance to admit a weight problem, or desensitisation to excess weight because being overweight has become normal. Sally Hammond, from the Fresh Air Gym, says “information and support is always available from your GP if you have any concerns. Making a difference to your child’s activity levels begins with first steps. You just need a starting point and from those first steps so many ‘active opportunities’ will become easier to achieve. ”

Fresh Air Gym (Cannock) has designed a fitness programme to give parents and children a chance to kick start a healthy lifestyle together. Parents sign up with their kids for 8 family fitness sessions spread over 4 weeks. The sessions are run by 2 professional trainers after school and last 30 minutes. Activities include fun games and encourage interaction between parent and child. The programme is fantastic as either a starting point in fitness to enable children to move on to a sport they enjoy or for those who enjoy the class a regular and social fun & games session. Fresh Air Gym also run Boot Camp programmes for adults of all fitness levels who are ready for change www.thefreshairgym.co.uk 01543 579297.