Childhood obesity to be tackled

A project aimed at tackling childhood obesity is being introduced in a County Durham town.

Darlington Council is to employ a team to get unfit families with overweight children to do more exercise.

The hope is that tackling the problem early will mean obese youngsters will not need specialist medical care.

The Family Initiative Supporting Children's Health (FISCH) scheme has been running successfully in Chester-le-Street in County Durham.

A physical activity co-ordinator, employed by the council, and a health advisor, employed by the Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT), will be going into primary schools to help children learn about the benefits of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.

The workers will also try to identify children who are in danger of becoming obese.

Miriam Davidson, from the PCT, said: "Childhood obesity can be linked to low self esteem and bullying as well as serious health concerns, including high blood pressure and abnormal glucose metabolism leading sometimes to diabetes."