FRIDAY, 3 JULY, 2015

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Taysiders encouraged to have a fun,

fit summer

NHS Tayside’s Paediatric Overweight Service Tayside (POST) is encouraging families to get outside, have fun and stay active this summer, whatever the weather.

Recent guidelines recommend that even children under five-years-old should have less sitting time and be encouraged to be physically active for at least three hours a day.

Regular physical activity in everyone’s daily life is proven to have many health benefits, which include contributing to a healthy weight, bone health and improving cardiovascular health, as well as improved quality of life. With the long summer nights, this is a great time to ditch the couch and get the whole family active.

The POST team message is not to be discouraged by the changeable weather, but instead to get creative. Here are some top tips to help kick start your fun, fit, family summer:

• Find out about activities planned for your local area – there are lots of summer programmes which are reasonably priced.

• There are lots or walking/cycling routes around Tayside, even in the city areas. Go online and look for free, printable maps. Your local council usually has these.

• Local councils or charity groups run holiday play schemes in local parks which are often cheap or free.

• Try a family swim session on a rainy day.

• Try organising a treasure-hunt. Write down clues, which can be questions, puzzles etc. For young children this can all take place in your home and/or garden.

• Write down a list of things to be found in the garden or park, for example, a flat stone, a pointed leaf and get the children to go out and find them.

Adults should aim to do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. One way to do your recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity is to do 30 minutes, five times a week.

The POST service promotes at least one hour of activity a day, no more than two hours in front of TV/computers a day and reducing high energy foods and drinks.

POST, with its partner MyTime Active, has groups coming up in Dundee this July and September for families with children aged 7-13 years looking to make healthy lifestyle changes. If you are interested in more information about the up and coming groups or are concerned about your child’s weight please contact post.tayside@nhs.net or 01738 473784.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718