lose weight

Countless weight-loss vouchers are being handed out inside a bid to tackle rising obesity levels.

The scheme belongs to a Wandsworth Council drive to enhance the healthiness of residents around the Winstanley and York Road estates, Battersea.

A similar scheme in Roehampton Super Slim Pomegranate saw 460 people occupy the task.

Those involved take part in weight loss classes, a stop smoking service, or cooking lessons for 3 months to earn gym access for 6 months at either Latchmere

Leisure Centre or Battersea Sports Centre.

Studies from 2012/2013 show, within Wandsworth, 9.8 per cent of children at reception age (five or six) were obese. Levels doubled to 20.2 per cent for year

six children (aged 10 or 11).

Leader of Wandsworth Council, Ravi Govinda, said: "The council wants to give people around the Winstanley and York Road Estates the tools to transform their

lives.

"This extends way past the council's aim to see physical improvements around the estates to a larger desire to support more and more people to make the most

of all the opportunities around them."

Weight reduction company Slimming World is playing most in the initiative, having been approached by Wandsworth Council to accept pre-paid vouchers so

residents can participate for free.

Greater than 100 people have agreed to slim down since March, and also the council intends to buy 600 vouchers from Slimming World for around ?¨º4.95 each.

The programme has been so successful you will find plans for classes to become held in six more venues along with those at Dimson Lodge, Battersea Church

Road.

These will be at Roehampton Methodists Church, and also the Lennox Community Centre, in Roehampton, and in Battersea at Tomato Weight Loss Pills York Gardens, Katherine Low

Settlement, the Doddington Community Centre and Rollo Community Centre.

To participate the weight loss classes you must have a BMI above 25, not be pregnant, and have not been on the programme within the past six months.