Children are getting a “positive start” in a programme designed to address health inequalities in Glasgow.
Thrive Under Five is delivering play sessions for families in Glasgow to encourage children in their early years to maintain a healthy weight.
Parents taking part are given resources and knowledge to help make healthier choices around food and promote exercise.
Led by health improvement staff from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the programme is part of a wider approach to tackle Glasgow’s health inequality crisis.
Fiona Carmichael is head of services at Early Years Scotland.
STV NewsShe said: “It’s really important for babies to come along to classes at this age. It helps them develop muscle movement and core skills needed for the next developmental milestone.
“There are lots of sensory activities promoting reaching, fix-and-follow and motor skills.
“It’s also not just physical – it’s about learning how to play, share and compromise at an early age. These are all the developmental stages of a younger person’s life.
“Workers spend time with families to spread key health messages and activities you can take into a home-learning environment to maximise development opportunities for each of the children.
“It’s great for developing muscles required for development as well as social skills.”
Glasgow has a high rate of health inequalities, with around 50% of the city’s population living in the most health-deprived areas in Scotland.
STV NewsThe latest census data shows that in the Glasgow City Council area, 10.8% of people reported bad or very bad health after accounting for age — the highest in Scotland.
The city has the lowest life expectancy of any local authority in Scotland, with men living to an average of 73.6 and women living to an average of 78.5.
GP and lifestyle medic Dr Becky Howie says Glasgow’s deprived areas lack access to affordable, nutritious foods vital for a healthy lifestyle.
“If you think of these kind of areas, the layout of streets; it’s takeaway shop after takeaway shop, corner shops selling ultra-processed foods and no supermarkets in the area,” she told STV News.
“They call these food deserts; the access to nutritious, affordable food just isn’t there.”
Ashley comes to sessions in Pollok with her son Joey, who celebrates his first birthday in December.
She said it’s a “great programme.”
“Joey has come on leaps and bounds since he started,” she said.
“It’s helped his interaction skills and come more out of his shell.
“Joey used to hate being on his tummy, he didn’t like it at all. Using different toys and skills has helped him be more aware of his surroundings and interacting with other babies.
“He’s very outgoing and he likes attention. He really enjoys it.”
STV NewsSchool teacher Kelly Morrison has been coming to the sessions with her three-year-old son Adam.
“He is a very active boy. He loves building dens, playing with construction material and enjoys the chance to meet new people,” she said.
“I would recommend this for anyone. it’s a chance for kids to get that social element and mums can meet others going through a similar experience at the same time.
“Being a parent can be quite isolating sometimes, so having that chance to talk with other mums is nice.”
STV NewsSiobhan Boyle, health improvement lead at Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership, says the project gives children a “positive start” in their childhood.
“This is a health board-wide healthy weight programme which enables healthy weight in the earlier years,” she said.
“We also provide family support with financial inclusion, healthy eating and lots of opportunities to be engaged in communities.
“Families are role models and the first educators for children, so it’s important parents are involved in partnership, showing the benefits of being active and helping lead healthier lifestyles.”
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