Healthy Weight Advice

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Healthy weight advice

You may have been given this information leaflet if either you or a health care
professional is concerned about the weight of your child. Children who are overweight
are at an increased risk of developing health problems such as high cholesterol, high
blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, gallstones and heart disease. They
may also develop joint problems, breathing problems and psychological problems such
as low self-esteem or a lack of confidence. These conditions can present in childhood
or later in adult life. Children are also more likely to be overweight or obese as adults
but this can be prevented or reversed by making changes to your child’s lifestyle.

What is the cause of being overweight or obese in childhood?
If your child eats and drinks more calories than they burn off through physical activity
your child will put on weight because the excess energy is stored as fat. Therefore, ways
of addressing this include:

Eating more healthily

• Limit your child’s consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
• Eat a diet with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day
• Eat breakfast daily
• Eat meals together as a family as much as possible
• Limit eating out, especially eating at fast food restaurants
• Adjust portion sizes appropriately to the age of your child

Getting more physical activity

• Interventions to increase physical activity should focus on activities that fit easily
  into your everyday life (such as walking)
• Children capable of walking should be physically active daily for at least 180
  minutes, spread throughout the day
• All children should undertake a range of moderate to vigorous activity for at least
  60 minutes each day
• Children aged over 5 years of age should undertake vigorous activities including
  those that strengthen muscle and bone at least 3 days per week
• Your child should minimise the amount of time they spend being sedentary (being
  restrained or sitting) for extended periods (except sleeping)
• You should try to complete at least some local journeys with your child using a
  physically active mode of travel with the aim of establishing active travel as a life-long habit from an early age
• Reduce TV viewing and other screen time. Any strategy that reduces TV viewing
  and other leisure screen time may be helpful (such as TV-free days or setting a
  limit to watch TV for no more than 2 hours a day)

The information below will help you access local services that can provide help and
support in managing your child’s weight.

0-23 months of age
 Your Health Visitor
 Healthy Start https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
 Change4Life https://www.nhs.uk/change4life
 Family Coaching https://www.onside-advocacy.org.uk/familycoach

2-4 years of age
 Your Health Visitor
 Healthy Start https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
 Family Coaching https://www.onside-advocacy.org.uk/familycoach
 Starting Well Partnership Information for professionals in Worcestershire | Starting
Well (startingwellworcs.nhs.uk)
 Ask to be referred to a dietitian

5-16 years of age
 School Nurse
 Healthy Start
 Family Coaching https://www.onside-advocacy.org.uk/familycoach
 Ask to be referred to a dietitian

Other sources of support using online services and useful websites include:

NHS Choices
http://www.nhs.uk/livewell

Worcestershire County Council
www.worcestershire.gov.uk

If your symptoms or condition worsens, or if you are concerned about anything,
please call your GP, 111, or 999.

Patient Experience
We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you
and your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a
member of staff on the ward or in the relevant department who will do their best to
answer your questions and reassure you.

Feedback
Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well
and where improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your
experience with us including completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are
available and can be posted on all wards, departments and clinics at our hospitals. We
value your comments and feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this with
us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the
nurse in charge or the department manager in the first instance as they are best placed
to answer any questions or resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of staff is
unable to help resolve your concern, you can contact the PALS Team. We offer informal
help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf,
if you feel unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to
outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can investigate
your concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing and we can
advise and guide you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:
Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: wah-tr.PALS@nhs.net

Opening times:
The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please
be aware that you may need to leave a voicemail message, but we aim to return your
call within one working day.

If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of staff.

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