HENRY - Health Exercise Nutrition for the Really Young (Charity Number 1132581)

HENRY is a national charity giving babies and young children a healthy start in life. They work in partnership with parents, volunteers, health practitioners and local communities to protect children from the emotional and physical health consequences of obesity.

Think obesity doesn’t matter? Think again…

The UK is suffering a worsening national obesity crisis which costs the NHS over £6bn per year. If we don’t make changes for the generation being born today this figure is predicted to rise to £50bn by 2050 – by which time it is predicted half of all adults could be obese.

For many children, if we can’t offer support in the early years, it will be too late. Over 80% of obese children will go on to be obese as adults putting them at high risk of lifestyle-related health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

For obese children themselves, the more immediate concern is often the psychological impact; their quality of life is greatly reduced – bullying, isolation and exclusion are common – and they are more likely to suffer from depression.

In the UK, 1 in 4 children are already overweight or obese by the age of just 5 years old. HENRY’s community work is focused on babies and toddlers because evidence shows that habits and preferences around food and physical activity are formed in the earliest years of our lives and stay with us into adulthood. The first few years of a child’s life are also a great time to offer support to parents, many of whom want to make lifestyle changes so that their children don’t suffer from obesity in the way they have.

HENRY inspires, motivates and supports families to adopt a healthier lifestyle, preventing child obesity before it starts. They don’t tell parents what to do, they support them to work out their own goals and plans for what will work in their own lives, allowing them to adopt a healthier lifestyle for the long-term – for them and their children. They provide courses, videos, online resources, and peer support.

For more information on this charity then please click visit www.henry.org.uk

“HENRY has changed my life and my children’s lives. I now feel very happy and confident with what I feed my children. I am less stressed and me and my children enjoy family days out whilst getting loads of exercise.” – Lisa Wiggins, mum of 2

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