Everyone needs food so their body has ‘fuel’ to grow and brains get the energy they need to learn. If you eat more food than your body needs it turns into ‘stored fat’ which can make you weigh heavier than you should do. Also if you don’t eat enough you can weigh less than you should do which is also unhealthy.
Following a healthy diet isn’t always easy when there are so many unhealthy foods available - but there are a few simple tips that can help you eat healthily. School Nursing teams support the Change 4 Life programme which can help you eat well, move more and live longer. Click here to visit the Change 4 Life website or contact your School Nursing team for further advice.
Currently statistics show that 1/3 of all children in England are either overweight or very overweigt. If these rates continue to rise by 2050 2/3 of all children in England will be overweight.
55% of 6 to 9 year olds and 79% of 10 to 14 year olds who are currently very overweight will be in adulthood. This is because only 11% of parents with children who are overweight recognise that their children have a weight problem.
Being above a healthy weight can have severe long term effects such as fertility problems, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and many others.
The National Childhood Measurement Programme aims to monitor overweight and very overweight rates so health professionals can tackle weight issues in areas where number’s are highest. School Nursing teams weigh and measure the height of reception and year six children every year. Every child is seen on their own away from other children. The results are kept confidential and only the parent or carer are informed of their child’s height and weight. Parents / carers and year six children can refuse to give consent to take part in the programme.
For more information on the programme please visit the Department of Health website.
