Young people hail healthy takeaways to tackle obesity

By Charlotte Goddard Tuesday, 30 June 2009

East London young people are presenting good practice certificates to takeaways that add healthy eating options to their menus.

Eastlea pupils Jessica, Precious, Gemma and Ruhama with takeaway boss, Syed Hussain

Young people from Eastlea Community School in the London Borough of Newham are visiting takeaways in their local area to highlight the importance of healthy options.

The school's deputy director of learning and Healthy School director Paul Williams said: "We are working with the shopkeepers and they are playing ball. There may have been the odd raised eyebrow but now they seem to understand where we are coming from."

Newham mayor Sir Robin Wales said he hoped the scheme would be picked up nationally.

A quarter of Year 6 pupils in Newham are classified as obese. Newham is piloting a government scheme to give all primary school pupils free school meals, and is currently gathering information on the number of food and alcohol retailers in the borough in a project with Groundwork London.