Youngsters and academics in the Westcountry are teaming-up to produce a nationwide plan aimed at tackling rising levels of childhood obesity.
Schoolchildren across Devon are working alongside experts from the University of Exeter and Plymouth University to formulate the plan which the academics hope will change the attitudes of youngsters across the country towards both eating and exercise.
Children from 32 schools in the South West will join interactive theatres as part of a Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP), designed to motivate and inspire them to take messages home.
Nine and ten-year-olds will work with actors who will advise them on how to improve their health – with regard to snacks, exercise, and time spent on screen -based activities.
Jenny Lloyd from the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the development of HeLP, said: "This is a fun way to get young people to think about their habits and behaviour and motivate them to take key messages home to their families.
"The programme has been carefully designed to enable and support children to make small, sustainable changes to their lifestyles and the involvement of families is central to achieving this."
The actors who will play the roles of four characters named Disorganised Duncan, Football Freddie, Snacky Sam and Active Amy – each with their own lifestyle struggles.
Of the schools involved half receive the programme, while the other half follow the usual curriculum – but are assessed to help scientists understand if the intervention effectively improves children's lifestyles.
Lead investigator Professor Katrina Wyatt said: "This split is designed to allow us to compare the two groups and to assess whether the intervention programme is effective in supporting children to make healthy behaviour choices and preventing them from gaining excess weight. A pilot involving four schools indicated that our programme can have a positive impact on children's snacking habits and activity levels.
"If we can show that HeLP can affect children's behaviours, we hope it will eventually be used in all schools."
Other parts of the programme involve special assemblies, activity workshops run by professional sportsmen and dancers, parents' evenings and education sessions.
Sue Clarke, Devon County Council's head of education and learning, said: "Naturally we want every child in every Devon school to achieve the best they can academically. But a good education is about more than exam results.
"This programme could help our children lead healthier, more rewarding and fulfilling lives."
Child obesity has become a major issue over the past 30 years with latest data from the 2011 Health Survey for England showing a third of 11-15-year-olds were either overweight or obese.
The 32-school trial will cost £1.35 million, funded by The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).