FAMILIES in one of Oxford’s 'obesity hotspots' are being encouraged to embrace healthier lifestyles for one week.

From shunning sugar-laden snacks to cycling or walking to work and school, residents in Littlemore can make one healthy choice to stick to for seven days.

The challenge is being staged by a new group called Littlemore Health Partnership, from Monday, February 26 until Sunday, March 4.

Katie Screaton, chairman of the partnership and head of John Henry Newman Academy, said: “We are very aware we need to pull things together for the community and make sure we signpost people and give opportunities for them to improve their health, if possible.

“There are these pockets of Oxford where we need to tackle health issues in a supportive way.”

According to Oxford City Council’s analysis of children and young people’s needs, published in 2013, Littlemore, Blackbird Leys, Greater Leys and Rose Hill were ‘significantly above the England average on the proportion of children aged 10-11 years that are classified as obese’.

The same document stated that almost 25 per cent of children in Littlemore were classed as obese, compared to a national average at that time of 20 per cent.

Mrs Screaton said: “There are health partnerships in the Leys which are very good. We need to make sure Littlemore has that kind of support.”

The partnership is a collaborative effort between the primary school, St Mary and St Nicholas Church, The Oxford Academy, Oxfordshire CCG and Oxford City Council, represented by councillors John Tanner and Gill Sanders.

It grew from the Littlemore Community Partnership, which is a mix of agencies that meets every 12 weeks to help enhance the area.

The Littlemore Health Challenge Week will be the group’s first key event.

John Henry Newman Academy already promotes healthy eating, and asks parents not to send their children to school with chocolate, sweets or fizzy drinks in their lunchboxes.

Mrs Screaton said she hoped people would take part in the healthy week, adding: “It can be a bit of fun and something families can do together.

“We are not talking big things but manageable things like doing your 10,000 steps a day or swapping a chocolate bar for an apple or orange.

“It might be the opportunity to take some time out for peace and quiet and reflection.”

Healthwatch Oxfordshire, which helps to shape health and social care in the county, also stated in the latest Littlemore Local community newsletter that it will be reaching out to groups in Littlemore in early February.

Though data on specific areas of the city have not been published recently, childhood obesity across the city has not yet been curbed.

NHS figures released in October showed that in the last school year, 35.1 per cent of Oxford children were overweight or obese.