NO the exercise we offer is specifically designed for people who are not regular exercisers or who have certain health problems (e.g. overweight, high blood pressure, diabetes etc)
The number of sessions depends on the activities you enrol onto. However, it is important to realise that those who manage to attend each week show the greatest improvements. Less regular attendance will result in less significant improvements.
Keep it in the Family
Halting the rise of childhood obesity in West Cornwall
The aim of the programme is to halt the rise in childhood obesity, focusing on 7-13 year olds, and their families, in West Cornwall. The families will be provided with regular physical activity, as well as healthy lifestyle and healthy eating education.
There is currently a programme which has ran from January 2010 – July 2010 which has been extremely successful. Because of its success another will begin in January 2011 in Hayle, starting with a 10 week MEND programme(see www.mendprogramme.org for more information).
The programme is free for families to take part in but does require a high level of commitment, particularly with regards to time. Participants have the opportunity to learn all about healthy eating, take part in practical cooking sessions and lots of free activities!
About Keep it in the family
The current programme has been working with 15 families (up to 60 participants) where a child has been referred through a number of routes. Some of which include schools, family services, gp's or self referrals.
The successful outcome of the ‘KEEP IT in the family' programme will be that the whole family benefits, and supports each others throughout the programme, and that they all go on to lead and sustain a healthier, happier and more active lifestyle.
The first 10 weeks of the programme is MEND (mind, exercise, nutrition, do it). This part of the programme focuses on increasing physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices, psychological triggers and increasing self-esteem. Rather than focusing on weight loss, the MEND aspect of the ‘Keep it' project takes the approach of teaching children and parents weight management skills. This includes inspiring families to adopt a healthier lifestyle and enjoy preparing and eating healthy foods, as well as reading food labels and healthy shopping on a budget as part of a supermarket tour.
The added value that the 'Keep it in the family' project brings is that after the 10 weeks of MEND the participants are able to experience additional activities. The families are given the opportunity to try a variety of different sports such as surfing, gig rowing, and coasteering all making the most of the local environment.
After trying some more of the extreme activities, more local mainstream leisure centre based activities such as swimming, trampolining or dancing will be available. Hopefully at the end of the 6 months the families will have found an activity the want to keep up and together with the weight management skills they have already learnt they can go on to lead a happy healthy lifestyle.
LIVE 4 LIFE
Lifestyle Intervention for Food and Exercise
Live 4 LIFE is specifically targeting children from Falmouth and Penryn aged between 7 - 16 with recognised overweight or obesity issues and / or low self esteem stemming from perceptions from body shape. The programme will focus on the whole family making changes. It is essential that at least one parent / carer attend the programme with the referred child, but the whole family are invited and encouraged to attend.
This is a two year project so we believe that we can have a tremendous impact upon the area and hope that close links with different agencies will strengthen this to ensure that we work with those in the most need.
If you are interested in either programme please contact Kate Dann 01209 360012 or kate.dann@ciospct.cornwall.nhs.uk
