Your Child's Healthy Weight
The GP Care Group is committed to improving children’s health and supporting them to grow healthily.
We know our environment can make it difficult to be a healthy weight and there are many factors that can affect a child’s weight. For example, the cost of healthy food, the abundance of fast food, and the limited spaces for safe physical activities can make it difficult for families to make healthy choices.We believe there is no one size fits all solution when it comes to healthy lifestyles as families will have different needs, priorities, and interests. Our aim is to take a holistic approach by seeking to understand each family’s circumstances so the right support can be offered.
Looking for Waltham Forest services for parents & families?
Find our full range of Waltham Forest services on the the your health service page.
Click HereTower Hamlets residents
For Tower Hamlets residents, this page contains information about available child healthy weight resources and support services. Please click on the page of interest to get further information. You can also visit Tower Hamlets’ Local Offer to find out about what is available for all families, children and young people in the borough. For further information please contact the Family Information Service on 020 7364 6495.
For professionals
For professionals working with children and families, please view the “Child Healthy Weight support for professionals” tab below to access our new directory called 'Child Healthy Weight Directory of Support Services.'
Child Healthy Weight (CHW) Intervention GuidesHealthy eating and nutrition
Guidance and support around children's nutrition.
Babies should be introduced to solid food at about 6 months old. Please have a look at the Start4Life website for guidance about what food to offer.
- Download the NHS Introducing solids guide and the Eating Well in the First Year of life booklet for tips and easy recipes.
- Watch our animated ‘Solid Foods’ video from Care Confident available in both English and Bengali.
The NHS Eat Well guide makes healthy eating easier to understand by giving a visual representation of the foods needed for a balanced diet.
Respecting customs and culture is very important when it comes to nutrition. Have a look at the following adapted Eatwell Guides which might correspond better with some of the food you are having at home:
- Vegetarian Eatwell Guide
- South Asian Eatwell guide
- African & Caribbean Eatwell guide
- Did you know 80% of children in the UK are not eating enough vegetables? Pease check Veg Power which is on a mission to inspire children into veggie loving habits they will keep for a lifetime.
- The NHS Better Health Healthier Families website has a lot of fun and inspiring ideas from breakfast to dinners including heathy lunch boxes and snack swaps. You can also download the free food scanner app on your phone to help you make healthier choices at the supermarket.
- For simple and cost-effective meal ideas, have a look at First Step Nutrition Eating Well for the whole family recipe book.
- Children under the age of 4 years old should be given a supplement containing vitamins A, C, and D such as Healthy Start vitamins (children under 1 year do not need vitamins supplements, if they are drinking more than 500ml of formula a day). In Tower Hamlets you can collect free Healthy Start vitamins from one of our Children and Family Centres
- All adults and children over the age of 4 years old should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of Vitamin D especially during autumn and winter. Visit the NHS webpage on Vitamin D for further information.
Young children have a natural tendency to become choosy about the food they eat as they enter toddlerhood. This can be a frustrating and worrying time for parents. We have selected a list of resources to support your little one to be more adventurous around food. It is important to remember there is not a one size fits all solution and some strategies will work better with some children than others.
- Have a look at the Child Feeding Guide website which aims to guide families toward happy mealtimes and healthy children.
- Check the HENRY Top Tips for fussy eating for ideas to make mealtime a more enjoyable experience.
- Have a look at the See & Eat website which provides practical tips and activities to support your child eat a more diverse diet.
Oral Health
The following three top tips can support keeping your children’s teeth healthy:
Start brushing when your baby's first tooth appears and supervise brushing until 7 years old. Brush twice a day with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.
- Avoid sugary drinks and snacks, especially between meals. Check the NHS Healthier Food swap page for inspiration.
- Visit your dentist. Local NHS dentist can be found on the NHS website.
- For more information visit the NHS Children’s teeth page and watch our care confident ‘Oral Health’ video available in English and Bengali.
Food Access and Financial Support
Support accessing affordable food.
If you need support to access affordable food, please visit the Tower Hamlets Food Support page to find out about:
- Food banks and food pantries
- Free School Meals
- Healthy Start Scheme
- Affordable markets and food co-ops etc.
If you need financial advice and support, please download Tower Hamlets Worrying about money leaflet or complete their online digital form.
Physical Activities
Being physically active every day is important for children’s growth and development.
- Babies under 1 year should get at least 30 minutes of tummy time spread throughout the day. See Start4life baby moves for further information.
- Children aged 5 to 18 years old should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. UK Active Kids and kids work out to do at home have inspiring ideas to get children moving in a fun and interactive way. Young People can check their nearest Youth Centres as they offer many fun and inclusive activities. This includes Spotlight, Newark and many more!
- Children aged 1-4 years old should spend at least 180 minutes (3 hours) a day doing a variety of movements. Check Visit BBC tiny happy people for inspiration and have a look at our Children and Family centre timetable for activities near you.
You can also visit the Tower Hamlets Sport & Physical Activity page to find out about a range of physical activities available in the borough.
Children's Weight
If you are concerned about the weight or growth of a child under the age of four years, please contact our Health Visiting team on 0204 551 1414 or thgpcg.hvrecordsandreferrals@nhs.net.
Children in primary schools are weighed and measured in Reception and Year 6 as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). If your child has been measured this year and you would like to discuss their results, please contact our School Health and Wellbeing team on 0204 551 1414 or thgpcg.schoolnurses@nhs.net.
For children over 2 years old, you can check your child’s growth by visiting the NHS BMI calculator entering your child's height, weight, age and sex. For further information please visit the NHS Children’s weight page.
For guidance and support about talking to your child about weight in a positive way, please download this guide aimed at parents and carers of children aged 4-11 years old.
Parenting Programmes
At times parents and carers might need help and support to deal with the everyday challenges of family life. Parenting programmes are a source of support for all parents and carers and offer an opportunity to share parenting experiences, develop a greater understanding of child development, relationship building between parent and child, and dealing with challenging behaviour.
In Tower Hamlets we offer a range of parenting programmes which take place in schools and community centres across the borough. Download the parenting programme booklet to find a course that would suit your needs.
To talk to a parenting practitioner for advice or to book a place, contact the Parenting Team by phone 020 7364 6398 or email: parenting@towerhamlets.gov.uk. English, Bengali, and Somali speaking practitioners are available.
Emotional Health and Wellbeing
Physical health and emotional health are connected to your child's healthy weight.
Supporting our emotional health and wellbeing is essential to our overall health. Please see below some resources and services if you would like to get some support.
- Young Minds provides young people and parents tools and resources to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
- The CAMHS team provides support with mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders etc. Family and young people can self-refer by calling 02074262375.
- Young people over 11 years old can visit HealthSpot to access a friendly and confidential medical appointments with an experienced GP in supporting young people health needs. Every school holiday Wednesdays, young people can also drop in to see a School Nurse for support on a range of health needs. Find out about date and location on the School Health page.
- Kooth counselling offers free digital support for young people aged 11-25 years who can access the service anonymously by signing up online.
Adult Services
Looking after your own health and wellbeing can have a positive impact on the whole family.
Visit Tower Hamlets Connect if you need support around your physical or emotional health, or information and advice about social care and welfare, and community services across the borough.
