School's obesity crackdown gives pupils a health boost (From Dudley News)

School's obesity crackdown gives pupils a health boost

11:30am Tuesday 10th April 2012 in Kingswinford

YOUNGSTERS at Maidensbridge Primary School, Wall Heath, have been learning about healthy eating and fitness as part of a borough wide crackdown to cut childhood obesity.

Dudley Public Health has been working closely with the school and 19 other borough primaries to develop obesity action plans as latest statistics show one in five youngsters aged five is classed as obese - and the number rises to one in three by the age of 11.

Health chiefs say Maidensbridge has fully embraced the plan to help children fight the flab - by laying on family Zumba lessons, running healthy eating sessions after school and encouraging pupils to use an outdoor classroom in the school’s wooded grounds.

Headteacher Andy Hale said: “As well as lots of physical activity programmes food is also going to have more of a focus within the school curriculum. It will help the school to help parents to bring up their children to live a healthy lifestyle.”

Pupils were presented with certificates on March 30 for their efforts in taking part in the Healthy Schools Programme, funding from which has given the youngsters and their parents chance to try out new activities such as yoga, cheerleading and aerobics.

Ruth Hill, the borough’s obesity prevention co-ordinator for health promoting schools, said: “The team are passionate about helping schools raise awareness of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle to their pupils, their families and staff.”