Stevenage mayor signs up to weight loss campaign - and hopes you will too

Mayor Sherma Batson, Ed Sandam, Sport England, Cllr Sharon Taylor and Louise Gallagher, SBC Sports Development (Image: Archant)

Stevenage’s mayor is hoping that you see less of her this year – after she signed up to a new weight loss initiative.

Yesterday Sherma Batson stepped on to the scales at Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre to launch So Active.

And she is encouraging people to follow her lead.

Funded by Sport England with a £220,504 grant and run by Stevenage Borough council, So Active’s aim is to get Bedwell residents to live healthier life styles.

Mrs Batson helped to kick-start the three-year initiative by taking part in the Health MOT, which saw her step onto Boditrax scales and under go 18 health tests in 30 seconds.

They figured out her BMI, body fat content and bone density.

She said: “I cannot be the first citizen of Stevenage telling people to live healthy lifestyles if I am not doing it myself.

“My weight has been going up and down since I was 18 and I have used every excuse for not eating healthily and not doing exercise.

“But is about changing your lifestyle and after today I am not going to use the word diet again.

“It is about making changes, and if you fall off the wagon, just get back on and continue.”

Mrs Batson is aiming to lose two stone by Christmas.

Sports development officer and So Active project manager Louise Gallagher said: “It is a very exciting programme and it is about finding out what works, what doesn’t and what people want.”

Working with Stevenage Leisure Centre they will offer healthy living advice about diet and a range of exercises.

So Active is targeting the youths, families and the over 50s.

So Active and the Health MOTs will be launched at Bedwell Community Centre today.

People can go along and learn more about the initiative between 10am and 2pm.