OVERWEIGHT children are set to get a helping hand from a new health and wellbeing service aimed at youngsters in the region.

The new service, which is being launched by Cheshire West and Chester’s Public Health team, is aimed at youngsters aged five to 19, and is to be announced in CWAC’s 2014 Public Health report.

Worryingly, the report reveals that in 2012-13 around one quarter of the borough’s children in their school reception year was an ‘unhealthy’ weight, while around nine per cent were classed as obese.

In the same period around one third of West Cheshire children in their final year at junior school were an unhealthy weight – with almost 18% classed as obese.

Fiona Reynolds, interim director of Public Health, said: “Excess weight and obesity in children often leads to excess weight in adults and this is recognised as a major cause of mortality and ill health.”

The programme, which will launch in January 2014, will be provided by Cheshire and Wirral NHS Partnership Trust and will work through schools, youth clubs and community groups. 

The new service will also look to tackle other key issues including smoking, alcohol and drug abuse and exploitation.