A UNIVERSITY is supporting the Government's fight on flab by offering to train people to run neighbourhood slimming clubs.

Academics Dr Beckie Lang and Professor Carolyn Summerbell say the NHS is struggling to cope with the growing problem of obesity and that commercially-run weight loss groups are not the answer for many people.

The pair are about to launch the country's first university-accredited course to train non-health professionals to work with obese people, to be staged at the University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough.

Targeted at carers, leisure and community workers and commercial slimming clubs, the programme will run in partnership with Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust.

If successful, it could be extended across Britain.

Dr Lang, a research fellow with the university's school of health and social care, and Professor Summerbell say the course will encourage more people to launch courses.

Prof Summerbell said: "We've developed it with the Association for the Study of Obesity to increase awareness and understanding of obesity and weight management, especially to people with no formal training in this area.

"There are courses for nurses, medics and other health professionals in Glasgow and Liverpool, but ours will be the first for those working in the community.''

The course, which will run over 11 Tuesday morning sessions, starts on January 4.

Dr Lang said: "The NHS can't cope by itself with the problem of obesity and some people are put off by the larger commercially-run weight-loss groups because they can find their approach intimidating. What we would like to see is more support for local people in local groups to run their own weight management programmes.''

Successful students will be presented with a certificate.