‘We tried to encourage him to eat healthier but it was very difficult. He just did not respond to us’

Sarah*, who is mum to Jack*, became concerned about his weight when he was nine years old. He wasn’t into sports, although his father took him on nature walks at the weekend, and while his appetite was always good, his parents noticed that he was eating less-healthy options when he could, choosing toast and jam instead of fruit after school, for example. Jack was teased about his weight gain and became self-conscious, wearing a t-shirt in the water when he went swimming with his school once a week.

“I stopped buying certain foods like white bread, crisps, chocolate and bought more fruit and healthy foods,” says Sarah. “But he would still eat bad foods at his Nan’s house and his friends’ houses, and convince his Nan to take him to McDonald’s. He seemed to be able to find a way and it was very frustrating.”

Because Jack wasn’t responding to the family’s efforts to eat healthier, they decided to take a different tactic instead.

“We thought, if we could get him to exercise more and drink more water and eat a bit better, it would make an impact on his weight and how he feels about himself,” his mother says.

“He had been asking for a dog for years. I always thought we were too busy but it seemed like this might be a good idea to get him to exercise more. He was 10 when we got the dog and he adores her and runs around the beach with her every day now. It has really changed him for the better and has helped him get fitter and lose some weight.

“We never wanted to put him on a diet, as that can be so counterproductive for children because it can give them issues around food. By increasing his exercise, he now drinks more water, eats a bit better and overall, he is a much happier child, and it teaches him responsibility too. It was the best solution for us.”

* Names have been changed