The Public Health Department, Wolverhampton City Council is in the process of commissioning a new Child Weight Management Service, which will be tasked with helping families take up a healthier lifestyle.
Meanwhile, a Positive Pregnancy and Beyond programme has already been commissioned to support mums and mums-to-be tackle weight issues. This service is being delivered by the Healthy Lifestyles Department, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
Councillor Sandra Samuels, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: "Obesity is a significant health issue in Wolverhampton, particularly among our young people.
"Some 13% of Reception age children and 24.2% of Year 6 children were classified obese in 2011 to 2012, and to combat this trend we've introduced or are continuing a number of services to both prevent and treat obesity.
"These include providing free swimming to children aged 16 and under, encouraging primary school children to eat more fruit and vegetables through the Food Dudes programmes, running Wolfie's Workouts in schools in partnership with the Wolves Community Trust and offering parenting advice.
"We've also established more than 20 outdoor gyms which are located in parks around the city.
"We are now in the process of commissioning the Child Weight Management Service, which will seek to engage with families to help them eat more healthily and increase the amount of time they spend being active."
The council is continuing to commission and develop the Positive Pregnancy and Beyond programme in response to research which shows that pregnant women who are obese are more likely to suffer complications during delivery and that children born to a family where one or both parents are obese are more likely to become obese themselves.
Councillor Samuels said: "This programme sees specialist health trainers offering women one-to-one support during their pregnancy to help prevent them gaining further weight, including giving advice on healthy eating and the sort of physical activity they can take while they are pregnant, such as aquanatal swimming.
"The support to reduce their weight continues after they have given birth, either through health trainers, WeightWatchers or the new Fit for A Fiver programme offering a 12-week exercise progamme for just £5, and mums are also encouraged to breast feed and given information on how to wean the baby at the correct time."
- released: Tuesday 2 July, 2013