NHS Tayside helps St John's pupils stay healthy

 NHS Tayside helps St John's pupils stay healthy

THURSDAY, 12 MAY, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PHOTO ATTACHED OF JENNY GILLESPIE FROM THE POST TEAM DELIVERING THE MYTHBUSTERS WORKSHOP TO S1 PUPILS AT ST JOHNS ACADEMY

NHS Tayside helps Perth pupils stay healthy

NHS Tayside’s Paediatric Overweight Service (POST) has been supporting a health week at St John’s Academy in Perth to help pupils learn healthy lifestyle messages.

Members of the POST team worked alongside teachers and The Royal Highland Education Trust to deliver a series of workshops to S1 to S3 pupils during the week-long programme.

The POST team used quizzes and games to share information about body image and self-esteem and the mythbusters workshop highlighted that there are a lot of health messages out there that are not true. The team’s sugar workshop included information about sugar recommendations and games to highlight how much sugar there is in popular fizzy drinks along with messages about the consequences of excess sugar.

There was also an information stand available at lunchtime which included games for pupils to find out more about fat and sugar levels in popular foods and drinks. Every pupil received a workbook to build on what they had learned and reinforce the healthy lifestyle messages delivered in the three workshops.

POST team lead Dr Laura Stewart said, “We really enjoyed working with the pupils at St John’s and helping them learn how to adopt a healthy lifestyle which they can carry through to their adult lives.”

David Taylor, principal PE teacher at St John’s, said, “St John’s Academy ran their first health week at secondary level and it was a great success. The health and wellbeing of every child is a critical part of their holistic development and NHS Tayside played a vital part in highlighting key messages to pupils during their workshops.

“I’d like to give a huge thank you to the POST team for their commitment and support throughout.”


The POST service promotes the Fun Fit Tayside ‘1, 2, 3’ message of at least one hour of physical activity, no more than two hours of screen time and three healthy, balanced meals each day.

POST is a specialist weight management service for children and young people across Tayside which aims to support children and young people under 16 years old as well as their families, to manage their weight and adopt healthier lifestyles.

To find out more about the POST service or if you have any concerns about your child’s weight you can contact POST in confidence on 01738 473784 or email post.tayside@nhs.net or visit our website www.funfittayside.org.uk

Contact:

Gaynyr Dickson

NHS Tayside Communications

01382 740716

gaynyr.dickson@nhs.net

12 May 2016