The MEND Programme

MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it) is a family based programme for overweight and obese children aged between 7 - 13 and their families. The programme has been developed by leading national experts from Great Ormond Street Hospital and combines practical education in nutrition and diet, and behavioural change with a specifically adapted exercise programme that has been created for children who do not naturally like to exercise. There is also an emphasis on interactive fun learning which helps to deliver sustained improvements in families diets, fitness levels and overall health.

The MEND programme consists of eighteen two-hour sessions over 10 weeks. Each session features one hour on either diet, nutrition or behavioural change and an hour of fun, land or water-based exercise. All sessions comprise practical, hands-on learning using specially designed games, visual demonstrations and activities including a supermarket tour and a MEND-friendly receipe tasting session. As part of the programme at least one parent or carer must accompany each child at every session.

River Park Leisure Centre has recently been awarded £47,000 from The Big Lottery Wellbeing Programme to implement the MEND programme from Autumn 2007. There is no cost to attend the programme, but the centre will need to assess children's suitability for the programme based on their age, weight and health.

For further information on MEND or to discuss getting your child on then programme contact River Park Leisure Centre on 01962 848700 or 01962 848706.