Features
Georgina's on the MEND
As a parent, it can be difficult to know what to do if your child becomes concerned about their weight. This is the situation Michelle Mason of Old Woking found herself in when daughter, Georgina's, weight increased over a period of time.
It was while watching television that Michelle discovered the MEND Programme (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it!) - a fun course dedicated to helping reduce obesity levels in the UK. She had never heard of the programme, but knew that slimming was not the answer and was keen to find out more about the programme through the internet.
After researching MEND on their website, Michelle knew it was what she and her daughter were looking for and decided to enroll. "For a parent, it ticked all the boxes. It was more about common sense than anything else, covering nutrition, eating the right foods and, above all, making it a fun experience." continued Michelle.
The MEND Programme is aimed at families with children aged from seven to 13 years old, whose weight is above the healthy range for their age and height. The free programme combines entertaining, yet educational, activities and discussions for both children and parents.
Gary Cordery, Woking Borough Council's Health and Well-being Officer, explains more: "Families attend two two-hour sessions a week for 10 weeks. Families learn about the importance of nutrition, portion size, how to read food labels and the role food and exercise play in leading a healthy lifestyle."
During the first week, children and parents are introduced to the programme's team of fully qualified instructors and attend a measurement session to calculate their weight, body mass index and fitness levels. Each week, children, with the help of their instructor, are encouraged to set their own SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-based) targets. In Georgina's case, her targets included increasing the amount of water she drank and reducing the number of snacks and junk food consumed.
"At the beginning I didn't want to go. But after the first session, I couldn't wait to go back each week. Because you come up with the targets yourself, it made me want to push on to reach my goals," explains Georgina excitedly. "It really helped me focus on what I needed to do and gave me a goal to work towards."
However, the focus isn't just on children, as Gary continues: "There are also instructor-led parent discussions around issues that may affect their children, such as child behaviour and bullying." Michelle adds: "It was very different to how I imagined it. What they tell you is serious and the way they tell you makes it stick."
Michelle continued: "The parent and child discussions are in groups, but the instructors make you feel like it is a one-to-one. They're committed, gave Georgina lots of tips on how to achieve her targets and are genuinely interested in what your child achieves."
And the MEND programme certainly made an indelible mark on Georgina and her parents: "Even my Dad has cut down on his snacks and reads food labels carefully. You can really see and feel the changes. Eating healthily, I've got more energy so I want to exercise more and I eat less! I'd suggest to anyone who is conscious of their weight to go ahead and try the MEND Programme. You never know, it might just change your life!"
Could the MEND Programme benefit your family? If you think so, the next programme begins late September and will be held at Parkview Centre for the community in Sheerwater. Please contact Gary Cordery on 01483 755855, email gary.cordery@woking gov.uk or visit www.mendprogramme.org for more information.
