Walsall Fun 4 Life programme featured in ITV documentary

A Walsall child who successfully completed a weight management programme run by Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust (Walsall tPCT) and Walsall Council was last night featured in the ITV documentary ‘Fifteen Stone at Eight Years Old’. The documentary, which investigated whether more drastic action needs to be taken in combating childhood obesity, highlighted the achievement of eleven year old Samantha who took part in the 12 week Fun 4 Life programme. The initiative, which is aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 16 who are overweight or obese, follows on from pioneering work done in Walsall with the first ever NHS childhood obesity clinic in 2004.

Paul Jennings, Chief Executive for Walsall tPCT, “Obesity in children is a growing concern and something which Walsall tPCT takes very seriously. The Fun 4 Life programme is a key initiative providing children and their families with the help and support they need to improve their lifestyles through healthier eating and more physical activity.”

Fun 4 Life, which is funded by Sport England, introduces fun and interesting ways children can control their weight through physical activities such as ultimate frisbee, street dance, football and canoeing. Weekly lifestyle sessions focus on practical ways children can change their own lifestyle, with staff providing positive and friendly advice and information.

 Young people can be booked onto Fun 4 Life through their GP, School Health Advisor or Nurse or through self-referral by a parent or guardian.

For more information about Fun 4 Life, or to book a place for the next programme, please contact Claire or Simon at Walsall Council’s sport and leisure development service on 01902 605500.