Helping your child maintain a healthy weight

In Tower Hamlets, nearly one in eight children aged  four to five and over one in four children aged 10 to 11 are obese. This is likely to cause health and wellbeing issues for these children for the rest of their lives. 

How can you help your child maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight?

You can check your child’s Body Mass Index (BMI) using the BMI calculator.

Five key ways you can help your child maintain a healthy weight

1. be a good role model
   
   
2. encourage 60 minutes, and up to several hours, of physical activity a day,
   
   Find out the:
   • amount and types of physical activity recommended for under fives 
   • amount and types and physical activity recommended for children and young people aged five to 18
   • ways to get active with your child at Change4life - Sports and activities
     
     
3. keep to child-sized portions:
   • discover what counts as a balanced diet  
   • explain to your child how to get the balance of their diet right using the Eatwell Guide 
     
     
4. eat healthy meals, drinks and snacks. 
   
   Find:
   • tips to help your child enjoy their five a day 
   • tasty five a day family-friendly recipes 
   • more about healthy drinks for children  
   • more about swapping high-fat foods for healthier alternatives
      
5. less screen time and more sleep.
   
   Find out:
   • how much sleep children need according to their age.

Finding support 

Start4Life

The Start4Life programme from the NHS provides help and advice during pregnancy, birth and the early years of parenthood.

Change4Life

The Change4Life programme from the NHS provides simple advice and guidance to help you and your family be healthier and happier.