Ronny Terry is a Swindon-based personal trainer. He has previously worked as Performance Analyst with Swindon Town FC and on obesity initiatives with the NHS. Tweet your questions to @SWITCHFITUK or visit www.switchfituk.co.uk

Q Both of my children are a little overweight. Can you suggest any practical ways of dealing with the issue?

A Obesity is serious problem worldwide and in the UK. In England, recent studies have shown almost a third of 10 and 11-year-olds and more than a fifth of four and five-year-olds to be overweight or obese.

The implications on long-term health are not good and the strain on the NHS from obesity-related illness and disease is considerable.

As children are almost completely reliant on adults for their food intake, it is parents and carers who must take responsibility for this situation – not McDonalds, not the media and not fizzy drink manufacturers.

Only once responsibility is accepted can we start looking at measures to improve the situation and ultimately the health of our children.

Alive and kicking is a new initiative run by Swindon Borough Council, which aims to help those families with children aged five to 16 who may not be of a healthy weight. With an emphasis on behavioural change, this 10-week course is free of charge and consists of weekly workshops and exercise sessions to inform and educate in a non-patronising way.

I have been fortunate enough to see first-hand the positive changes that can be made by attending this type of course, as I helped implement something similar in Swindon a number of years ago. Anyone interested can email ESperring@swindon.gov.uk for further information The NHS Change for Life website is another excellent resource for families looking for practical information to improve their health. It includes tips for eating well and links to local activities and events. Even for those without any weight related concerns, it is a non-patronising, accessible website that is worth 10 minutes of any parent or carer’s time.

Cutting down on sugars, controlling of portion sizes and limiting junk food intake are three obvious changes that can have an immediate impact on health. For those who need more structured support, the suggestions above would be a great place to start.