A BOURNEMOUTH woman has taken it upon herself to try and help tackling the growing problem of childhood obesity through the launch of a new online app.

The number of obese 10 and 11-year-olds in Year 6 has risen by 33 per cent over the past five years in Bournemouth and 17 per cent in Poole, to one in six of the total.

In light of this and the latest national figures from Public Health England, Bournemouth resident Jo Bourne is hoping to improve the health of children across Dorset through an innovative approach that embraces teddy bears and technology to get families active. Ms Bourne launched the online app, Teddy Time, to inspire a generation of children and their families to keep fit.

“The app educates families on how to live healthy lives, with guidance on eating, basic hygiene and exercising regularly, to ensure children can truly flourish,” she said.

“Teddy Time is truly pioneering, by combining online activities, with real-life actions, families are guided through exercises designed by clinicians and educational professionals, to ensure the best outcomes for children.” One-in-four children starts school overweight, with many pre-school children not receiving even basic exercise in their nurseries, while at home, Jo believed that children were missing out on their physical development.

“Exercise is vital for children to develop their co-ordination,” Ms Bourne added.

“Strengthening not only muscles and bones but also the connections throughout the nervous-system that help children use tools, such as pencils.

"My partner is a doctor and many evenings he would come home exasperated that he was treating patients that were suffering from obesity related diabetes and heart disease.

“Many of these illnesses can be prevented by keeping fit and following a balanced diet, so I designed Teddy Time to instil healthy behaviours at a young age.”