OPINION: When parents make healthier choices, the whole family can benefit

Families across Portsmouth are experiencing the positive ripple effect of parents adopting healthier habits to lose weight after joining their local Slimming World group, according to Slimming World Consultant Lou Rodgers.New independent research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), carried out at the University of Bristol and published in the BMJ Paediatrics Open, found that many parents attending weight-management groups reported positive changes in their children's health behaviours, including increased physical activity and healthier eating.The survey of 396 Slimming World members with children aged five to 11 found that 67 per cent of parents who were concerned about their child's weight felt more motivated to support them after addressing their own weight. Almost half (48 per cent) reported improvements in what their child ate after joining the programme, while more than a quarter (27 per cent) said their child had become more physically active.For Portsmouth mum Kerri, the positive ripple effect can be seen at home with her 10-year-old daughter.Lou says Kerri's family is a great example of how making healthier choices can become a normal part of family life.'I see the ripple effect of weight loss in my groups all the time,' says Lou. 'Parents often join because they want to improve their own health, but the changes they make at home can benefit the whole family too.'Kerri is a lovely example of this. Her daughter enjoys the same family meals, makes her own healthy choices and is incredibly active through rugby and dancing. She even comes along to group with Mum. It shows that healthy habits don't have to mean completely different meals or making children feel that they are missing out.'It's about creating a healthier family environment where good food and being active are simply part of everyday life.'Improving health and dissatisfaction with appearance emerged as the leading motivations for weight loss among parents, each influencing more than four in five (81 per cent) respondents. Many parents also wanted their children to have a healthier future because of difficulties they had experienced themselves with weight and health.The findings come as experts warn that younger generations face a growing risk of future weight gain. Global studies predict that one in three children, teenagers and young adults could be living with overweight or obesity by 2050, while research shows children with parents living with obesity are more likely to develop it themselves.Lou believes the findings highlight the importance of supporting parents in making sustainable lifestyle changes.'When we support parents to lose weight, we're potentially helping the whole family,' she says. 'It might be cooking healthier meals together, finding enjoyable ways to be active, or simply showing children that healthy food can be delicious and enjoyable.'The support people receive at a community-based Slimming World group can make such a difference. Members share ideas, recipes, encouragement and real-life experiences, and those small changes can become habits that benefit everyone at home.'That's one of the things I love most about helping people lose weight – seeing the positive effect it has on those around them too. We're not just supporting one person; we're helping families build healthier futures together.'Lou runs Slimming World groups every Monday at 5.30pm and 7pm at St Margaret's Parish Hall, Highland Road, Southsea.Saturdays 7:30am at Hope Church, Somers rd For more information or to find out how to join Lou's groups, contact Lou on 07587 174802.