Led by the company’s nutrition coach and registered dietician, Matt Lawson, the programme aims to teach children and young about looking after their health and wellbeing, and boosting mental and physical performance through good nutrition.
He explained: “We know that kids of all ages can benefit hugely when it comes to both mental and physical performance if they are encouraged to dump the junk food that they are constantly tempted with.”
It follows a recent NHS report revealing that more than one in three 10-year olds in England were either overweight or obese in 2016-17, which “is especially important as tightening council and school budgets is leading to subjects like physical education being taken off the curriculum,” Simon Bradeley, Tanita UK commercial manager, said.
He added: “Tanita views helping schools to provide school children the right nutritional advice and helping them understand how it relates to their performance as a key contribution to wellbeing in the wider community.”
Having installed Tanita’s BIA solutions machine at Ivybridge School and College, it will enable the company to gain insights into pupil’s health readings and “fine-tune” their nutrition and exercise goals.
While director of athletic development at Ivybridge Community College, Andy Taylor, said the experience was “highly positive,” the company awaits further feedback before deciding whether it will roll the scheme out nationwide.