The Scottish Health Survey (SCS) conducted research in 2011 which showed 35 per cent of boys and 29 per cent of girls aged 2-15 were overweight.

In Clydebank and the surrounding area efforts have been made by the area’s health board — NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) — and West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) to address the problem.

Between 2011 and 2014, 438 children from the area completed two programmes which have been launched to combat the issue – the Active Children Eating Smart (ACES) and the Active Choices programmes.

Both the ACES and Active Choices programmes were developed with contributions from a wide range of professionals from psychologists to dieticians and school nurses.

The programmes are delivered by experienced, trained sports coaches via West Dunbartonshire Leisure.

Soumen Sengupta, head of strategy, planning and health improvement for West Dunbartonshire Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP) said: “The CHCP is bringing together the work of the council and the NHS health board to encourage healthy living.

“We are currently working in partnership with pre-five services, schools and West Dunbartonshire Leisure on a range of healthy weight programmes.

“These programmes require commitment from families to participate over a number of months and involve support with healthy meals as well as enjoyable exercise activities.” Children who are deemed as being outwith a ‘healthy weight range’ are identified by their schools, doctors and through a variety of other means. Parents and families who are concerned about their child’s well-being can also get in touch and sign up to the services directly.

The ACES programme is a 12-week intensive programme which is held outside of school hours in the community.

There are also seven hours-worth of Child Healthy Weight Programmes (CHWP) in schools across the area.

Dr Linda de Caestecker, GGC’s director of Public Health, added: “Obesity is a major health issue and we owe it to children to make sure they have a healthy diet and are encouraged and helped to be physically active.

“We are committed to working with families and with our colleagues in schools to find new ways to encourage children to eat more healthily.” If you are concerned about a child’s weight you can contact the ACES programme for free on 0800 027 0291.