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Welcome to the home of Activ8, a unique, fun, educational and fully inclusive health programme for children.

Activ8 has been designed purely with the aim of helping schools and parents combat a growing national and worldwide problem - childhood obesity.  

Childhood obesity is one of the most serious global public health challenges of the 21st century, affecting every country in the world. In just 40 years the number of school-age children and adolescents with obesity has risen more than 10-fold, from 11 million to 124 million (2016 estimates).  

“The rise in severe obesity and widening health inequalities highlight why bold measures are needed to tackle this threat to our pupil’s health. These trends are extremely worrying and have been decades in the making - reversing them will not happen overnight.” - Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at PHE.

Key facts/figures on Childhood Obesity (taken from the World Health Organisation):

  • The number of overweight or obese infants and young children (aged 0 to 5 years) increased from 32 million globally in 1990 to 41 million in 2016.
  • The vast majority of overweight or obese children live in developing countries, where the rate of increase has been more than 30% higher than that of developed countries.
  • If current trends continue the number of overweight or obese infants and young children globally will increase to 70 million by 2025.
  • Without intervention, obese infants and young children will likely continue to be obese during childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
  • Obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of serious health complications and an increased risk of premature onset of illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease. 

Consequences of obesity in childhood:

  • ADHD and Learning disabilities
  • Depression
  • Increased risks of developing Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)
  • Allergies and Asthma
  • Headaches and ear infections

Ongoing health problems as adults. These include:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Insulin resistance (often an early sign of impending diabetes)
  • Musculoskeletal disorders (especially osteoarthritis - a highly disabling degenerative disease of the joints)
  • Some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon)
  • Disability

Browse through the website to find out more about why and how Activ8 for Schools is at the forefront of tackling this growing issue.