324: kids helped to lose weight, get fit - and feel better

This is a really promising tale, about a couple of kids from Rotherham in the UK, who had been bullied because of their weight and totally lacked confidence. That is, until they attended a six-week fitness camp this summer - so today's linked article from the BBC reports. The camp helps kids make healthy eating choices and to take regular exercise. Throughout the camp, participants are told how much weight they are losing, and this builds their confidence. It certainly seems to have worked for the kids in the BBC article - who have said they feel taller, slimmer, and generally better. When they get home, they and their families will be supported for a further four months to make sure their progress - and optimism - is sustained. What's more, it's all funded by the National Health Service - so families needn't lose weight from their wallets at the same time. Based on my time in the US to date, I can't help thinking that the Rotherham experience could translate well to the other side of the Atlantic, though I've never heard of anything like it here. Definitely something worth watching though...