Some 250 children aged 8-16 have lost considerable amounts of weight thanks to a weight loss program at a special weight loss centre for kids in Vesterbro, reports Berlingske.
In total, 356 children have completed at least 12 months of the program.
Must be obese
Copenhagen Municipality has therefore decided to expand the program and also offer it to children as young as six years old.
However, in order to be referred to the centre, children must have a body mass index of 30, which classifies them as being obese.
Expert assistance
The centre in Vesterbro opened in 2009 as one of the first municipal initiatives focused on curbing obesity among children.
It provides expert assistance, including psychological support.
Health issues
Most of the children attending the centre have a different ethnic background to Danish, and a relatively high proportion of their parents are unemployed and have a low level of education.
According to the Danish Health and Medicines Authority, 12.8 percent of Danish children are overweight when they start school.
Being overweight increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, asthma or the so-called fatty liver.
