Overweight children as young as seven are taking Pilates classes in an effort to become healthier.

Six children aged between seven and 13, from schools across the county, started their 10-week strengthening and toning sessions yesterday.

If it proves successful, the classes will continue throughout the year, with the opportunity for more to get involved.

The children on the course last year took part in a nutrition and healthy lifestyle initiative called Mind Exercise Nutrition Do It! (Mend) run by Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust.

Now the children have signed up to Pilates classes in an effort to get trim and stay healthy.

The class is run independently of schools and the PCT, but course leader Charlotte Ferrall Peevey, 32, is involved in the programme of events being run in Oxford as part of the Change4Life project, a national year-long campaign which starts today to get children to be more active.

In the coming weeks she hopes to swell the number of participants to 20.

She said: “Pilates is the perfect exercise for children.

“When I took them before, I noticed they all had really bad posture, which is typical of today’s sedentary lifestyle.

“Children spend too much time slouching around watching TV and playing computer games.

“Teaching Pilates is not only an excellent work-out, it strengthens core muscles and gives the kids extra confidence by teaching them to stand tall and hold their heads up high.”

Simone Teague, 11, from Old Marston, Oxford, said: “I wanted to carry on the classes because we had so much fun last time. I’d just be sitting at home watching TV if I wasn’t here — this is much better.“ The children take the hour-long classes twice a week – first undertaking moderate cardiovascular exercise and in the second session performing a series of stretching and conditioning pilates exercises.

Rosa Swarbrick, 13, from New Hinksey, Oxford, lost three kilos — half a stone — during the Mend programme and intends to carry on Pilates. She said: “After the classes last time we all became good friends and just found we wanted to carry on.”

Marie Thompson brings her 11-year-old daughter Ciara from Bicester to Oxford for the sessions.

She said: “It is impossible to find sports clubs in our area that will take on children who just want to take exercise for a healthier life. It seems they will only consider taking on children who will win competitions and earn them recognition.”

Dr David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “I would like to find out how well it actually works and, if it is successful, even see it rolled out across the country.“ Ms Ferrall Peevey will be holding the £5 lessons on Monday and Wednesday from 5pm, at the South Oxford Community Centre in Lake Street.

LISA Birch, from Watermill Way, Barton, Oxford, signed her daughter Nicole, seven, both pictured, up to the Pilates course so she could improve her fitness and carry on losing weight.

Mrs Birch said: “When we went to the Mend classes, Nicole lost 5cm off her waist, which was brilliant.

“The important thing with children is not to encourage them to just lose weight, but to focus on keeping active and being healthy.”

Nicole is 4ft 6in tall and weighs just over seven stone.

Her body max index is 24.5, putting her in the obese category.

Meanwhile, the Get Oxfordshire Active campaign will be hosting free blood pressure and cholesterol checks at the Westgate Shopping Centre from noon today. Go to getoxfordshireactive.org awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk