STUDENTS are to get their teeth into a media campaign designed to promote healthy weight and boost wellbeing.
Obesity doubles the risk of dying prematurely with 10 per cent of early deaths a year being traced to excess weight, students were told during a project briefing at Darlington College.
The Government spends more on treating the effects of unhealthy weight than on primary education and in Darlington more reception children than the national average are considered obese, while by year 6 the figures is 34 per cent, according to Public Health specialist Rachel Osbaldeston.
Obesity is also linked to cancer, heart disease, stroke, depression and diabetes while being under weight often leads to ill-health as well. Hospitals are having to cope with four times more admissions than 10 years ago.
Darlington Council’s Public Health department has drawn up a healthy weight action plan for the borough and has asked Darlington College students to design a promotional campaign aimed at helping young people, from babies to 25 years of age.
More than 40 students on a variety of courses, including graphic design, fine art, art and design and photography, will spend the next six weeks designing posters for display and social media.
Rachel said: “We are looking to the students to make this fun and exciting to engage the public. But to be effective the campaign needs to concentrate on the positive benefits of being a healthy weight rather than nagging the public about the risks.
“If we can get people to be more active and reduce portion sizes and the amounts of fat and sugar consumed the impact on health will be massive. They will have more energy, better self-esteem, a longer, happier, healthier life.
“Last year the students helped us with a mental health campaign and the images were absolutely amazing at getting across a range of messages.”
Darlington college tutor Pippa Eeles said: “The facts are shocking and it is clear just how important it is to educate young people and their parents.
“Live projects such as this really benefit our students who have a client to consider and deadline to meet. This year’s project will really challenge them as they have to balance negative messages around obesity with the positive benefits of healthy living.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk