WLCT is helping to successfully prevent and tackle childhood obesity in the borough.

Child obesity figures at reception age are starting to decline across the country, with figures for Leigh and Wigan better than the national average, a new report has revealed.

The figures show that in the areas, the proportion of obese children at reception age in 2012/13 was 8.5 per cent compared with 10.4 in 2010/11. The current national average is 9.3 per cent.

Carol Southern, manager of WLCT’s Active Living team, said: “The work we have historically carried out is now starting to have a real impact on the health of children in Wigan, which is really encouraging.

"We have now started to spread the healthy living messages at pre-school age to ensure that children have a positive start when it comes to healthy eating and keeping active.”

The leisure and culture provider runs a number of programmes to promote healthy eating and activity in the borough, including Let’s Get Movin’ - an integrated family weight management service for 0–17 year olds, their families and local schools.

Courses include Healthy Habits for Life and free swimming sessions for obese children and their families, the national child measurement programme NCMP for reception and year six children in all schools and access to supervised gym sessions at secondary school level.