Project Wii helps a healthier lifestyle

A virtual exercise plan involving a popular games console is aiming to help overweight youngsters and their families in Daventry District learn about living and eating healthily.

Project Wii, part of the Body 4 Life programme being launched by Daventry District Council and Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust on November 13, will see children taking part in physical activity using the Nintendo Wii games console. The ground-breaking format sees players holding remote controls and moving their arms and legs to make characters move on-screen.

Participants will be referred to the project by their GP or school and alongside the physical exercise offered by the Wii, they will also take part in sessions on healthy eating and nutrition.

Body 4 Life is an innovative 12-week referral programme, run by qualified and dedicated healthcare and fitness professionals, public health specialists and dieticians. It aims to teach overweight and obese 8 to 13-year-olds and their families how they could benefit from increased physical activity as well as an improving their understanding of health and nutrition. The scheme is also being launched in other parts of the county from next month.

Judy Gregory, Executive Director at Daventry District Council, said: “Having the Wii involved is a way of making learning about these things a bit more fun. It is a hugely popular system that involves people actually up and moving to play games on-screen, so can form a valuable part of an exercise programme.”

“Tackling health improvement for Daventry district is a priority for us and getting involved in Body 4 Life is another way of us helping young people to learn more about how to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Jo Davis, Health Partnership Officer for Daventry District Council and Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust, said: “There is a worrying increase in childhood obesity nationwide, coupled with the decrease in the amount of physical activity carried out by youngsters.

“Encouraging children to increase the amount of exercise they take and reducing the amount of time they spend being inactive, along with a balanced diet, plays a big part in improving their overall physical and mental health.

“Body 4 Life is also about changing the behaviour of young people towards their lifestyle and the food they eat, which is equally as crucial as regular physical activity in tackling the rise of obesity in youngsters.”

Body 4 Life launches on November 13 with Project Wii sessions taking place at The Phoenix Youth Centre, Ashby Road, Daventry, on Thursdays from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. Participants are through referral only. All sessions are conducted by qualified fitness experts.