Evidence-Based Child Obesity Programme seeking referrals

Details

Published on Thursday, 08 June 2006

MEND provides programmes, services and resources to help children and families learn how to improve their health, fitness and the way they feel about their bodies. All of these elements help families manage their weight better and lead healthier lives, contributing to national and international efforts to prevent and treat overweight and obesity in children.

We currently offer three different programmes which families can join: MEND 7-13  for overweight children aged 7-13, MEND 5-7 for overweight children aged 5-7 and MEND 2-4, an early years healthy lifestyle programme for 2-4 year olds and their families, whatever the child's weight. All of our programmes involve parents or carers.

MEND is a social enterprise with a mission to enable a significant, measurable and sustained reduction in overweight and obesity. MEND works in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and UCL Institute of Child Health. The MEND 7-13 programme has been extensively researched and an RCT has shown significant improvements in waist circumference, BMI, cardiovascular fitness and self-esteem (Sacher et al, 2007).
 
Places on all of MEND’s courses are offered to families completely free of charge on a first come first served basis.
 

Why refer to MEND 7-13?

• FREE* evidence-based weight management programme for overweight / obese children aged 7 to 13 (≥91st BMI centile)
• Developed in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital and UCL Institute of Child Health
• Meets all NICE guidance recommendations for treatment of child obesity
• Average BMI reduction at 6 months = 1.9kg/m2
• Average waist circumference reduction at 6 months = 4.3 cm
• Results maintained at 12 months
• 20 fun after-school sessions over 10 weeks, plus continuing post-programme support
• Engages hard to reach communities
• 20 peer reviewed publications demonstrating improved health and psycho-social outcomes
• National Obesity Forum (NOF) approved
• MEND is a national partner of the DH Change 4 Life movement

 
*MEND’s programmes are funded nationally by Primary Care Trusts, Local Authorities, Leisure Providers, The Big Lottery Fund, Sainsbury’s, Sport England and the Youth Sport Trust.
 
If you require any more information on your local MEND Programmes or to refer any children, please contact MEND on Freephone 0800 230 0263 or visit the website on www.mendcentral.org or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

“MEND provides evidence that weight management can be successfully undertaken across a population in a community setting. I am excited that with the advent of practice based commissioning, GP practices will now be able to commission evidence-based solutions such as MEND directly”  Dr. David Haslam