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Watch It Kicks Off
Overweight and obese children in Sheffield aged 7-14 are now being referred to the NHS Sheffield commissioned programme ‘Watch It’ which concentrates on a solution focussed approach towards eating behaviours, physical activity and emotional well-being.
The community based service will initially be delivered in centres in Upperthorpe and the city centre, with plans to roll it out to other areas of the city where childhood obesity levels are high including Manor, Burngreave and Shiregreen. Children can be referred to the service by a GP, paediatrician or school nurse if a weight issue is identified as part of a health check.
What is Watch It?
Watch It is a service in partnership with Zest, NHS Sheffield and Activity Sheffield. It is designed to help and support children and young people aged 7-14 who struggle with being overweight. It offers young people and their families the opportunity to come along to our sessions where:
- They meet with WATCH IT trainers whom they see regularly
- They work through a programme looking at physical activity, eating
- behaviors and emotional wellbeing
- They join WATCH IT activity sessions in local venues
- Their individual needs are heard
Enrolment
All interested families are invited to attend an information session held in their local area of Sheffield so that they can learn more about the service and decide whether it is right for them. Parents/carers are then invited to a session to prepare them in supporting their child on their journey with Watch It.
Once families have attended these initial sessions, they are asked to select their preferred clinic and venue for the Watch It activity. They are then recruited on the programme and offered a venue for regular attendance.
The Programme
Each child is assessed, and receives guidance and an individualised programme based on achieving a healthy balanced diet, increased physical activity and behaviour modification. The focus is on family change as well as on the individual child. Families commit to attend for three months with an option to renew three monthly for a year.
Weekly sessions are delivered by Health Trainers, are currently being set up cross Sheffield. Health Trainers have received training relevant to childhood obesity and are supported through regular supervision.
Sessions will be running after school and on Saturdays to avoid absence from school. In addition, the young people are encouraged to participate in dedicated weekly Watch It physical activity sessions at the local venue which will be delivered by Activity Sheffield.
Referral Criteria
Children and teenagers may self refer or be referred via other channels such as their GP, paediatrician, school nurse or teacher.
- Parental engagement is essential – they have to come with the child to the sessions
- Age limit: 7-14 years old (or school Year 2-Year 9)
- Children/teenagers must have the ability to work through the HELP Programme, so it is inappropriate for those with significant
- learning/behavioural difficulties
- Parents and young people need to commit to a minimum of 12 weeks to complete the first phase of the programme
- Centile: 91st and above
Contact
For further information on Sheffield Watch It, or for self referral please contact Nazreen Iqbal on 0114 201 1490 or email sheffieldwatchit@zestcommunity.co.uk
(Image © Leeds Community Health Care)
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