A weighty idea to help children

Jun 12 2008 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

A NORTH IT developer is hoping to help counter the UK’s obesity epidemic with the launch of a groundbreaking piece of software.

Newcastle-based ZebraHosts has developed a programme to identify levels of obesity among children from postcodes, ages and ethnic groups.

The software, which has been adopted by the NHS and primary care trusts, is being used nationwide to analyse the growth statistics of children to identify high-risk groups and tackle obesity.

It will be used to accurately collate and analyse the growth information of children at every year of their development up to age 18 – giving a much more accurate picture of the nation’s health at childhood.

Belinda Kent, strategic account manager at ZebraHosts, said the software could have a significant effect on curbing the UK’s obesity problems among the nation’s youth.

She said: “This is a fascinating project with a wide-reaching impact on the nation’s health and we are happy to be involved. Critically, the software may improve the time taken to tackle underlying causes of overweight and obesity and ultimately put children on the path to a healthier future.”

ZebraHosts has launched the new software in partnership with South Shields-based Harlow Printing – a printing and stationery firm which specialises in paediatrics-related products.

The firm’s marketing director John Short said he was hopeful that the new software would be adopted by more and more PCTs and health authorities across the country once the product becomes more publicised.

In 2006 a national annual weighing and measuring scheme was introduced to record primary school pupils’ body mass index at reception and year six.

However, there was nothing to record this information in the years between and those beyond into adulthood – and so began the development of ZebraHosts’ new software.