Young, gifted and fighting the fat (From Echo)

Young, gifted and fighting the fat

4:17am Tuesday 23rd October 2007 in

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BEING a teenager isn't easy at the best of times. Being a teenager with a weight problem is even worse.

What a few years earlier might have been affectionately dismissed as puppy fat, is now the beginnings of a potentially life long problem.

Medically, obese children are at an increased risk from a number of serious health problems more usually seen in adulthood, including hardened and blocked arteries, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. That's not to mention the inevitable psychological distress involved with standing out at an age when you just want to fit in.

It's a situation that Mandy Knapp, district manager of Slimming World, is on a mission to turn around.

"I think it's coming to a head," she says of the obesity epidemic. "You see children as young as three and four who are grossly overweight. It's just so sad. Once you've got a weight problem it's a lifetime thing."

The slimming group run their own teenage programme Free 2 Go where teenagers can attend their classes free with a paying parent. It's an offer that's been taken up by almost 500 teenagers and their guardians across the county since it started last January.

"It's so important parents get involved," says Mandy. "Children can't do it by themselves and we have found from talking to them, that they want to help their children but they just don't know how."

The programme, which is run with the consent of the youngster's GP, tries to strike a balance between healthy eating and still being able to fit in with their peers.

"If they're with their friends they don't have to sit there with a lettuce leaf," says Mandy. "They can go for a burger, but instead of having the super duper burger have a plain one and a diet coke.

"This is not a diet," she insists. "That's not what this is about. It's about teaching families and children to eat healthily.

With children, it's not about losing weight it's about adapting a lifestyle now to help them when they become adults."

We catch up with four teenagers who are enjoying healthier lives as a result of the programme.

JAMES EICHELBAUM

Life wasn't much fun for Eastwood schoolboy James Eichelbaum.

At his heaviest the teenager topped the scales at 20 stone and his excess weight made his PE lessons a misery and meant he was bullied at primary school.

Now 14 and a pupil at Eastwood School, he is starting to turn things around. Since joining Slimming World in January with his nan Helen, he has lost two stone and 11 pounds and is already noticing the difference.

"I have always been rubbish at PE," says James of Boleyn Close, Eastwood. "I was always last at everything and it wasn't fun," he admits.

"Now I'm becoming more confident. I'm not afraid to speak up in class now, which is a change from being the really quiet kid."

PE lessons are different too.

"I always enjoyed PE but I'm enjoying it more because I can do more," he says. "The teachers have noticed my fitness levels have improved."

James now walks the 20 minute journey from school to home now. Something he wasn't physically able to do before losing the weight.

The lifestyle change has seen him swap takeaways for a healthier eating regime including the introduction of more fruit and vegetables. If he has crisps he opts for the lower fat variety and avoids processed foods. He lost seven pounds in his first week.

All his friends have been supportive, especially when home made pizza is on the menu!

"I'm very proud of him," says nan Helen. "You can't force it, but I'm so glad he's decided to do it."

TAYLOR DAVIES-KING

When Taylor Davies-King first joined Slimming World she would turn up to the classes wrapped in a big coat.

The coat would come off for the weigh in and then be put straight back on again. Even when the weather was good. Slowly over time the 12-year-old swapped the coat for a jacket, then a cardigan until she finally felt confident enough to turn up in a summery top and leggings.

The 12-year-old from Surrey Avenue, Leigh, has lost one stone 10 pounds since joining with her mum Linda at the end of February and looks almost unrecognisable.

"It has been quite hard because there are moments when you can't be bothered to do it," admits Taylor. "But you know that you need to."

The fact that the whole family are following the plan has helped, as have the differences Taylor's beginning to notice.

"I feel healthier, more energetic and more confident," says Taylor. So much so she has signed up to dance classes at Eastwood School this term. Something she has always wanted to do, but always felt too self-conscious for.

JOANNE BAYLEY

Before losing weight the only singing Joanne Bayley did was in her bedroom.

Now more than four stone lighter, the 20-year-old from Wick Drive, Wickford, is happy to share her talents with anyone who'll listen.

Joanne first joined her local class when she was 16 and has over the past four years has slowly lost the weight. As the pounds have dropped off, her confidence has grown.

So much so that's she's now realised her lifelong dream to sing in a band. The sales assistant now takes every opportunity to perform as part of duo Borjo.

"I was frightened before that people would comment about my weight, but now I'm confident in myself and love getting on stage."

THOMAS WILLIAMS

Thomas Williams used to be a comfort eater.

The 13-year-old from Marguerite Drive, Leigh, was having trouble at school and used food as a way of coping.

"He had a lot of problems with stress and being bullied and as a result he used to eat to try and make himself feel better," explains his mum Sarah.

It got so bad that Thomas was taken out of school and is now home educated. With his schooling back on track, Thomas and Sarah decided it was time to turn their attention to his weight and joined Slimming World together.

In the six months since they joined Thomas has lost three stone and Sarah has lost one.

"I think the rules are quite clear and it allows you to have treats," says Sarah of their success.

"I feel a lot different," says Thomas about his weight loss. "I feel a lot more confident and happy to get out and meet people."

"It has introduced the principles of healthy eating," adds Sarah. "Even if he doesn't keep it up, the knowledge will always be there and he'll know the route out."

CHILDHOOD OBESITY: THE FACTS

*Obese children are at increased risk from a number of serious health problems more usually seen in adulthood, including hardened and blocked arteries (coronary artery diseases), high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

*According to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2000), four out of ten boys and six out of ten girls do not do the minimum one hour a day of physical activity recommended by the then health education authority.

*The government has admitted for the first time that almost half of all children will be dangerously overweight by 2050 if drastic action is not taken to halt the growth in childhood obesity.

*Among those aged six to 15, obesity rates trebled from 5 per cent to 16 per cent between 1990 and 2001 according to World Health Organisation figures.