French approach taken to obesity

The scheme follows a successful project run in France

A continental approach is to be taken towards the issue of childhood obesity at eight locations across Scotland.

The Scottish Government has announced a £1.4m trial of a French project which has enjoyed significant success.

Sites in Dundee, Dumfries, Glasgow, North and East Ayrshire, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire will take part in the scheme.

Health Minister Shona Robison said the Healthy Weight Communities could bring towns together to tackle the issue.

The French project EPODE (Preventing Childhood Obesity Together) and its predecessor Villes Santés reduced child obesity rates by about 25%.

'Valuable lessons'

They attempted to get whole communities to work together to make healthy eating a priority.

Ms Robison said: "The French experience can teach us valuable lessons.

SCOTLAND'S EIGHT HEALTHY WEIGHT COMMUNITIES Armadale and Blackridge, West Lothian Barrhead, East Renfrewshire Catrine, East Ayrshire Dumfries Dundee Priesthill and Househillwood, Glasgow Stevenston, North Ayrshire Viewpark, North Lanarkshire

"Our Healthy Weight Communities will follow their lead by bringing whole towns together to get more active and eat more healthily."

One area where the scheme will be piloted is Dumfries, which recent figures showed as having one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in Scotland.

Council leader Ivor Hyslop said the project could have benefits across Dumfries and Galloway.

"At the heart of the successful bid is work with local schools where health and wellbeing are already embedded in daily school life," he said.

"Continued partnership working, including the involvement of local communities, will be crucial.

"This approach will maximise the benefits not only for north west Dumfries and Dumfries town centre, but for the whole of the region."

John Burns, chief executive of NHS Dumfries and Galloway, added that it was "firmly committed" to long-term health improvement and reducing child obesity.