Full Article - Published: 09/10/2009Written By: 01/01/1970

The Public Health Healthy Weight Team works across Medway to promote and develop new services to support a healthier lifestyle. The team co-ordinate a number of lifestyle courses FREE to families living in Medway.  

MEND (Mend, Exercise, Nutrition, Diet) is a family-focused, ten-week course that uses games and activities to learn about living a healthier lifestyle. Activities include understanding about what’s in our food, how to balance meals, foods which keep hunger at bay and tips on how to sustain healthier behaviours. Plus children play weekly games while parents have some ‘me’ time.

The course is open to seven to13 year-olds who weigh more than they should for their height and age.  MEND is not a diet but teaches easy to understand skills about how to eat and live more healthily for life!

After families have attended the Mend 10 week course, the fun doesn’t stop there as the Mend Graduate programme helps families continue their lifestyle changes. Weekly activities include games, sno-tubing, swimming, rugby, rounders and even trips to the zoo! The graduates club have just celebrated their first year birthday in style with an action packed birthday party.

Mend courses are run in local venues across Medway with fully trained professionals. If you are interested in knowing more about the programme or registering please call 01634 333741 or email mend@medway.gov.uk

In April 2009 Medway launched Mini Mend for families with infants aged between two to four years. Mini Mend, like Mend is a family-based course over ten weeks to understand how to enjoy a healthier lifestyle from an early age. Mini Mend uses parenting skills and behaviour change techniques to help toddlers and their families adopt healthy eating habits, incorporate more activity and ways to sustain behaviour.

Mini Mend is being rolled out across Medway in partnership with local Children Centres. For more information contact your local Children’s Centre or telephone 01634 333103.